Interstate 80 was the scene of multiple accidents Saturday morning, stretching from just west of Shelby to near Anita. In an accident involving a semi, a van an a Chevy Suburban that took place 1.5-miles west of the Anita east, three people died and eight others including two juveniles, were hurt. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the injured were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, with at least one of those persons flown from CCMH to a hospital in Omaha.

The crash happened a little after 9-a.m., when a westbound semi went out of control, crossed the median and collided with an eastbound mini-van. The semi jack-knifed and ended up in a ditch. An eastbound Suburban then collided with the semi’s trailer.

The driver of the semi was not injured. No names have been released at this time. The Interstate remained closed in both directions as of 2-p.m. between Exit 64 (Wiota) and Exit 70 (Anita). Depending on their direction of travel, motorists were being rerouted off the Interstate at Highway 148 (Exit 70) to Anita, or N-28 (Exit 64) to Wiota, to Highway 83 and then back to I-80 via either Hwy 148 or N-28.