UPDATE: http://kniakrls.com/2018/12/driver-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-on-163-identified/
The driver of a wrong-way SUV was killed in a head-on crash near Mile Marker 42 of Highway 163 in Pella Wednesday evening.
An unidentified driver seemingly merged onto the four-lane highway heading eastbound in the westbound lanes at Exit 40, and according to the Pella Police Department, slammed into a large semi carrying a trailer with both vehicles near the speed limit of 65 miles per hour nearly two miles down the road. The driver of the semi was uninjured, while the operator of the smaller vehicle died on impact, and that individual was traveling with a dog, who was also killed in the collision. Several motorists tried to get the wrong-way vehicle driver to realize their mistake, and several 911 calls were received leading up to impact, says Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky.
After the crash, dozens of cattle fled the flipped truck trailer and scattered for up to four miles away from the impact area. Bokinsky says from there, several local cattle farmers assisted first responders in getting the large animals corralled, as the livestock presented additional hazards for any travelers in both directions of the highway and on nearby exit ramps and rural roads.
“We were very fortunate in that another vehicle close to the accident scene was right there, and was occupied by a woman who is very familiar with the cattle industry,” he says. “She reached out to us and offered help, and she was able to summon a good number of cattlemen for us.”
“If you want to talk about heroes tonight, that’s who our heroes were. Very impressive performance, they could have very easily spent the night near a fire reading a book or watching TV, but they didn’t–when the phone rang, they sprung into action and they knew exactly what to do, they came with equipment, they came with trailers, and they knew how to handle the steer when they were found loose–they knew what to do to round them up.”
Bokinsky says their actions prevented further injuries or worse immediately following the major crash, as many of the cows were black and hard to see near the highway.
“They saved a lot of trouble, not only for the workers round them up, but they saved a lot of danger in the accidents they probably prevented.”
Some of the animals were killed on impact inside of the trailer.
Several agencies responded, including the Pella PD, multiple trucks from Pella Fire, Pella Ambulance, Marion County Emergency Management, New Sharon Police, as well as the Marion County and Mahaska County Sheriff’s Offices. Knoxville Fire and Rescue was on standby. Highway 163 was closed in both directions for well over five hours, as the SUV was completely destroyed on impact, and the semi carrying the cattle tipped over and was thrown across the roadway, eventually resting with the driver’s side down and significant front end damage.
The Iowa State Patrol is handling the investigation, and the Iowa Department of Transportation sent several crews to clean the highway from debris and fuel.
