New year begins with snow

MARENGO — An intense snow band moved through Iowa Jan. 2, and while the snow was light and accumulation was small, the snow produced slick roads and hazardous driving conditions.

Iowa County Sheriff Rob Rotter said his department investigated several accidents due to the weather, but they were minor and most of them — seven — involved drivers needing assistance after sliding into ditches.

Most involved no damage or light damage, but one collision on Interstate 80 resulted in both vehicles being towed from the scene.

About 10:30 a.m. Thursday, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department investigated an accident on I-80 near mile marker 219.

Ishvar Gadhiya, 34, of Maquoketa, was driving a 2016 Toyota Camry westbound on I-80. Merle Kessle, 67, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was also westbound, driving a 2020 Freightliner owned by New World Van Lines of Chicago.

According to the official accident report, Gadhiya lost control on the snow-covered roadway and spun out in front of Kessle, who was unable to avoid a collision due to road conditions.

The Toyota was facing the truck in the westbound lane when the truck hit the car in the front. Gadhiya reported chest pain from the deployment of the air bag but declined medical treatment at the scene, the report says.

Marengo police investigated two weather-related accidents Thursday.

About 11:42 a.m., Keon Purk, 21, of Marengo, was westbound on Highway 6 Trail in a 2021 Dodge Challenger and attempted a right turn onto Eastern Avenue.

Winona Whitaker, 61, of Coralville, was driving a 2022 Subaru Outback southbound on Eastern Avenue, approaching the intersection with Highway 6 Trail.

Purk’s car slid on the snowy street and collided with the Subaru.

No injuries were reported, and the vehicles were not towed from the scene.

About 3 p.m., Stephen Clubb, 72, of Marengo, was northbound on Western Avenue in a 1993 Volvo, tried to turn right onto Main Street and slid into the stop sign in the eastbound lane of Main Street.

Clubb was uninjured and was able to drive from the scene.

Another winter storm moved through the state Saturday and Sunday, though it remained south of Iowa County.

Though precipitation was not expected in Iowa County this week, daytime high temperatures will remain in the 20s with windchills near zero.

Winter driving tips

Iowa has received snow as late in the year as May — the latest date for a blizzard was May 29 in 1947 — though most winter storms occur in January and February.

The Iowa Department of Transportation offers the following tips for winter driving.

1. Stopping on snow and ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop.

2. On snow and ice, go slowly, no matter what type of vehicle you drive. Even if you drive an SUV with four-wheel drive, you may not be able to stop any faster or maintain control any better once you lose traction. Four-wheel drive may get you going faster, but it won’t help you stop sooner.

3. Accelerate gradually.

4. Avoid abrupt steering maneuvers.

5. Merge slowly, since sudden movements can cause your vehicle to slide.

6. Brake early, brake slowly, brake correctly, and never slam on the brakes.

7. Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by other vehicles will alert you to problems more quickly and give you that split-second of extra time to react safely.

8. Ice and snow, take it slow — slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering, and slower braking.