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.

Both directions of Interstate 80 between exit 64 (Cass County Road N-28) and exit 70 (Iowa 148) in the Anita area are now closed. The closure may last several hours. Multiple crashes in the area, one involving hazardous materials, have caused all traffic to be detoured. Avoid the area if possible.

For anyone who is traveling today, please slow down and allow plenty of space between vehicles if there is winter weather. Check for update on this situation at www.511ia.org.

Persons planning on traveling should avoid interstate 80 eastbound between the 70 and 64 mile markers due to multiple accidents including at least two fatalities. Law enforcement reports the interstate will be closed for at least 2 hours in the crash areas.

Multiple crashes are being reported this morning, as motorists fail to exercise their winter driving skills. A crash that happened at around 8:35-a.m. on Interstate 80 westbound one mile west of the Anita exit, has resulted in a woman passenger in a semi being injured. The trailer of the semi tipped over onto its side, spilling corrosive and flammable materials. The roadway is blocked eastbound. Firefighters from Atlantic are being assembled to handle the chemical spill.

A second, serious accident on I-80 in the same area, involved a semi and a car. Multiple injuries were reported. Several rescue squads and law enforcement were on the scene. Additional information is not available.

Rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.

Other, non-injury accidents have occurred, with vehicles spinning off into the ditch off I-80.

Rescue crews are responding to two separate accidents on Interstate 80. Emergency personnel from Anita and Wiota were called to I-80 westbound at the 65 mile marker at around 8:35-a.m. for a semi tractor trailer that rolled into the north ditch. The trailer was on its side. The rig was carrying flammable and corrosive materials, some of which were spilling onto the ground. A female passenger in the cab suffered from head injuries. The driver was not hurt. (Update 9:17-a.m.: The crash is between Exit 64: County Road N28 and Exit 70: IA 148; County Road F58 (1 mile west of the Anita area). The road is blocked due to a crash.)

And, rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.

Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey says he’d be willing to serve as Kim Reynolds’ lieutenant governor once she takes over as governor.
[RIcapBN1] :24 :makes sense.”
(as said) “I certainly am there to support her 100 percent and am willing to help in whatever way there needs to be, so I just am very excited about the opportunity,” Northey says. “I’m excited about the governor being our ambassador to China. I think that’s great for the state and for the country, but I’m also existed about the lieutenant governor becoming our governor and being able to help in whatever way makes sense.”

There’s no firm timeline yet for the transition of power, as there’s no date set for when Governor Terry Branstad will be confirmed for his new post as U.S. Ambassador to China. During an interview Friday afternoon with Radio Iowa, Reynolds says she has a list of individuals she’s considering to invite to be HER lieutenant governor. Northey issued a statement earlier this week, announcing he would NOT run for governor himself in 2018 and calling on Iowa Republicans to rally behind Reynolds.
Northey says the “math certainly changed” with Branstad’s looming exit and — since it is well known in political circles that he’s been considering a run for governor — he wanted to make his intentions clear.
[RIcapBN2] :07 :the Iowa legislature.”
(as said) “I think it’s important to support our next governor, to be able to have a strong two years with the Iowa legislature,” Northey says.

Northey is in the midst of his third term as the state’s ag secretary.
[RIcapBN3] :03 :to serve Iowans.”
(as said) “I certainly am interested in being able to serve Iowans,” Northey says.

And Northey says he’s “open” to leaving his post to become the state’s lieutenant governor, but Northey says there are “a lot of great folks” who could fill that role. Northey made his comments on this weekend’s edition of the Iowa Public Television program, “Iowa Press.”

(Radio Iowa)