A multi-vehicle crash this morning on Interstate 29 south of Sergeant Bluff left two people seriously injured. Woodbury County deputy, Doug Boetger, says it started with a pickup that for unknown reasons was going the wrong way on the interstate. “It attempted to get back up onto the interstate in the southbound. In doing so, it pulled up in front of three semis,” Boetger explains. “It struck one semi in the rear trailer axle and then kind of spun in front of a second semi that basically took it head on between the box and the cab — which imbedded the pickup onto the semi.”

A third semi was bearing down on the wreck and the driver had to take evasive action. “And managed to miss both of the other semis, but clipped a couple of trees. It was off the road for probably a hundred and fifty yards or so before it came to rest,” Boetger says. The occupants of the pickup had to be pulled out of the tangled pickup and semi. “Two people in the pickup were extricated by Salix and Sergeant Bluff Fire Rescue. They were transported to Mercy Medical Center (Sioux City) with serious injuries,” Boetger says.

The drivers of the three semis were not injured. The names of the people in the pickup are not yet available.

(Radio Iowa)

A rear-end collision Wednesday afternoon in Atlantic caused $4,000 damage, but no serious injuries. According to the Atlantic Police Department, vehicles driven by John Carns and Jacquelyn Sheeder, both of Atlantic, collided near the intersection of 7th and Plum Streets.

Officials say both vehicles were traveling westbound on 7th at around 4:20-p.m.  When Sheeder slowed for traffic that was stopped at the signal lights, her vehicle was hit from behind by the Carns vehicle. Carns complained of pain, but declined medical assistance. Authorities say Carns was given a warning for Failure to Stop in an Assured/Clear Distance.

MANSON, Iowa (AP) – A driver has been hospitalized after his propane truck was struck by a locomotive at a crossing in the northwest Iowa town of Manson.  The Messenger says the accident occurred around 5:55 p.m. Wednesday. State trooper Mark Anderson says witnesses saw the southbound truck stop at the tracks and then get hit in the back as the eastbound train went through. The truck came to rest on the driver’s side.

A hazardous-materials team responded when firefighters reported that propane was leaking from the truck.

HOLSTEIN, Iowa (AP) – A former transportation director of a northwest Iowa school district has been given two years of probation for tampering with bus records.  The Sioux City Journal says 52-year-old Douglas Wessling was sentenced on Tuesday. The judge also ordered Wessling to pay a $1,000 civil penalty. Wessling had pleaded guilty.

Wessling was put on leave last fall and then lost his job as transportation director for the Galva-Holstein Community School District after an investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. District Superintendent Dave Kwikkel has said three district buses were taken out of service because of damage. Kwikkel said Wessling put one of them back into use before it had been repaired. Authorities say he also falsified repair records on at least three buses.