‘Large equipment’ falls off semi, injures five

WASHINGTON — Five people were injured on Highway 1 in Washington Thursday morning, June 13, when “large equipment” fell off a semi trailer and hit their car.

A preliminary accident report released by the Iowa State Patrol Thursday said the equipment “caught on the railroad bridge” near the overpass before coming off the trailer, and hitting a Honda Odyssey driven by a 15-year-old around 10 a.m.

The report identified five people injured in the accident: four minors with the same last name, ages 12, 13, 15 and 17, and a 61-year-old woman, all from Wayland and all riding in the same car. The driver was transported to Iowa City by AirCare, according to the report, as was the 12-year-old in an ambulance.

The other occupants of the car went to Washington County Hospital and Clinics in a private vehicle. The report did not remark on the conditions of anyone hurt in the collision, though it was filed under the “injury” crash type, and not the category reserved for fatalities.

An entry in the countywide Call for Service log released the next morning added a few details, saying the car wound up in the ditch due to the incident and that the equipment did some “damage to the overpass,” although trains could still be heard moving through Washington along the line later in the day.

Washington Police Chief Jim Lester said in an email Thursday afternoon that he was “still on-scene,” but that the ongoing investigation was being handled by Iowa State Patrol, and declined to comment further. An email to Washington County’s 911 supervisor requesting more info about the incident was not immediately returned.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com