Council Bluffs Police report that at around 8:30-a.m. Saturday, emergency crews responded to the 5 mile marker of I-80 west bound, for reports of numerous crashes involving tractor trailers. At the time of the incident it was snowing and the roadways were ice and snow covered.

All photos are courtesy the Council Bluffs P-D

The first crash involved a semi that was heading west on I-80 at the 5 mm. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow and ice sending him into the median. The semi crashed through the metal guard rails between the bridges over Valley View Dr and Mosquito Creek. The semi continued down the hill and landed on Valley View Dr blocking the entire width of the roadway. Luckily no vehicles were on Valley View at the time the semi crashed. The occupants of the semi were not injured. Valley View Drive was closed down from approximately 8:10 AM to 1:30 PM while the crash was cleaned up.

The Second Crash occurred shortly after the first one while first responders were heading to the crash on Valley View. It involved a Nissan Rogue and a Tractor Trailer. Authorities say based on Police investigation and driver statements, the Nissan Rogue was ahead of the semi going west on I-80 when the driver of the Rogue lost control on the icy roadway. The driver of the semi attempted to take evasive action to keep from hitting the Rogue and lost control of the semi causing the trailer to jack knife. The back of the trailer went up onto the concrete bridge rail, knocking the tandem wheels off the trailer. The trailer continued to slide down the bridge rail with a portion of the box hanging over the edge of the bridge rail. The semi – trailer combo came to rest with the Nissan Rogue’s hood slightly under the trailer. The tandem wheels from the trailer landed down on the roadway by the 1^st crash. There were no reported injuries.

I-80 West Bound lanes were shut down for several hours while the crash was cleaned up. Special heavy duty tow truck equipment was brought in to lift the trailer off of the bridge rail and removed from the interstate. Approximately 50 vehicles had to backed up the interstate to a turnaround where they were rerouted east on I-80 to HWY 6 (Exit 8). I-80 West Bound traffic was rerouted at Exit #8 (HWY 6). Exiting traffic was detoured west on Hwy 6 to Kanesville, Kanesville to So 7^th St., So 7^th / So Expressway to the interstate access ramps on South Expressway.  Heavy truck traffic caused some traffic jams and delays along the route. Officers were dispatched for traffic control at So 7^th and Kanesville / Broadway until the traffic was cleared.

The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to remind motorists to use EXTRA CAUTION DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER Use Your Headlights, Slow Down, Give Extra Stopping Distance & Remember Elevated Surfaces Freeze Quicker and “Please, Please, Please Give Road Crews, First Responders and Vehicles on the Side of the Roadway Extra Space.”