Snow, wind contribute to Washington County crashes

WASHINGTON — A stretch of wintry weekend weather brought a spike in crashes and emergency calls across Washington County, including two wrecks with injuries Sunday evening that blocked traffic and sent multiple people to the hospital.

Dispatch logs show at least two crashes on Jan. 18 prompted responses from Washington County deputies, fire crews and ambulances as light snow fell and temperatures ranged from about 22 degrees to below zero in windy conditions. One crash, reported just before 5 p.m. near Highway 1 and 220th Street northwest of Washington, involved a truck and an SUV and injured four people, according to dispatch records.

“Road is completely blocked,” Mason Cooley commented about the scene near Highway 92 and Highway 1.

Multiple callers reported the collision, with air bags deployed and several people walking around the vehicles, dispatch logs said. Responders included deputies, a Washington police officer, Washington Fire and Washington EMS. Two juvenile patients were transported to Washington County Hospital, arriving at 5:18 p.m., and another patient arrived at 5:31 p.m., according to the log.

Less than an hour later, a second two-vehicle crash on Highway 218 south of the Highland School turnoff partially blocked the roadway, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office log. The crash occurred near the 1800 block of Highway 218 around 5:38 p.m. Air bags deployed, and multiple individuals were transported to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

“US 218 southbound: Road blocked. Between County Road G26 and County Road G36 (6 miles south of the Riverside area). The road is blocked due to a crash,” Iowa 511 said at the time.

Dispatch records also documented other traffic incidents earlier in the weekend. On Jan. 18 around 8:01 a.m., a caller reported a white sedan struck a bridge on Highway 218 near 192nd Street south of Ainsworth, partially blocking a lane. The driver reported no injuries, and state patrol handled the crash. On Friday morning, Jan. 16, a caller reported a truck hit a bridge near Riverside and went into the median, but it did not roll and no one needed transport.

Washington County’s weekend crashes mirrored hazards Iowa officials warn about each winter: slick patches that form quickly on bridges and elevated pavement.

The Iowa Department of Transportation advises drivers, “Be aware that ramps and bridges may freeze before other roadway segments,” and says motorists should “use good driving skills to avoid losing control of your vehicle.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com