DES MOINES — The Iowa State Patrol responded to numerous crashes Saturday on Iowa’s U.S. Interstates due to a quickly moving snow system that caused roads to become ice and snow covered.
The southbound lanes of U.S. Interstate 35 near the 100 mile marker in Polk County were closed for two hours for a 70-car pileup. Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig estimated 11 people were transported to local hospitals for injuries.
U.S. Interstate 80 near the 158 mile marker in Jasper County was temporarily closed in the westbound lanes for about 20 vehicles that had crashed due to the weather.
Farther east in Iowa County, a 30-car pileup closed the eastbound lanes of U.S. Interstate 80 at the 208 mile marker. Ludwig said three people reported minor injuries in the incident, which stopped traffic for less than an hour.
Ludwig said the majority of these crashes were caused by motorists travelling too fast for conditions and not allowing enough following distance.
All the crashes remain under investigation, he said.
