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Iowa Department of Public Safety
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Des Moines, Iowa 50319
www.dps.state.ia.us

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For immediate release:  
Thursday, December 20, 2012  
Des Moines, Iowa  

25 Car Crash, Multiple Blocked Interchanges; Iowa State Patrol Pleads with Motorists to Stay Off the Roadways

Des Moines, IOWA --- The sun has come up, but roadway visibility remains low due to high winds from the blizzard continuing its trek across Iowa. Limited visibility paired with roadways completely covered in snow and ice, create dangerous driving conditions for motorists. The Iowa State Patrol continues to urge Iowans to avoid travel.

At major interchanges and intersections across Iowa's highways and interstates, traffic is becoming increasingly backed up. Roadways are being blocked by stalled and stuck vehicles. In some instances semis have jack-knifed, derailing traffic for hours.

Currently, the Iowa State Patrol is responding to a 25 car crash at the 150 mile marker along the southbound lanes of Interstate 35. Preliminary information indicates that due to near zero visibility, drivers were unable to see vehicles that had either slowed or stopped on the Interstate. A chain reaction of crashes then ensued. So far one person has died as a result of the crash. The roadway remains blocked and Troopers will work this investigation for several hours.

Additionally, the Iowa State Patrol is just now responding to a crash involving several semi-tractor trailers along I-80 by Grinnell. Eastbound lanes are completely blocked.

Visibility in northern Iowa and along many other rural roadways is near zero.

Troopers continue to respond to a 25 car crash along I-35 in northern Iowa

Photo of the 25 car crash on I-35 in northern Iowa.

Colonel David Garrison said, “It's time to listen to warnings and get off the road. Iowa’s highways and interstates remain in poor condition for travel. Troopers will continue to assist motorists who become stranded in this dangerous weather. But your safest bet is to avoid travel altogether. If you don’t travel, you can’t become stranded.”

For questions, contact Jessica Lown at 515-208-7679.

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