Iowa officials: Up to 30 injured in I-80 crashes

DES MOINES, Iowa — Multiple crashes on Interstate 80 injured up to 30 people in eastern Iowa on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

No fatalities were reported, according the Iowa State Patrol.

The accidents stemmed from a trailer fire near mile marker 203 reported at about 3 p.m., Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said. As officials worked to put out the fire, traffic continued to back up on I-80 and two chain-reaction accidents occurred on the highway.

One accident happened at mile marker 208. The worst occurred near mile marker 215 and involved six vehicles -- two semi-trailers, a transit bus and three cars. There was an explosion at a third crash that engulfed a couple vehicles in fire, Ludwig said.

About 20 to 30 people were injured in the accident. One of the semi-trailer's drivers was transported by lifeflight helicopter. Ludwig said that driver was the most seriously injured.

Approximately 12 patients injured in the crashes were taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Other patients were taken to Marengo Memorial Hospital and Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.

The interstate in both directions was closed for several hours Friday after the accident.

Traffic was flowing again in both directions as of about 7 p.m. CT Friday.

Keith King, 50, real estate broker from Kansas City, was on the scene shortly after the second accident. He reported seeing several people sitting on the side of the road and a burning vehicle.

"I could tell from the number of people outside along the highway and the severity of the fire on the vehicle, it was pretty serious," he said.

"I could tell quite a few of them looked injured. I don't know how serious. I could tell it was a pretty serious accident."