Two accidents were investigated by the Iowa State Patrol over the weekend. One of the accidents occurred in Wright County on Interstate 35 at the 153 northbound mile marker at mid-morning last Saturday. Reportedly a northbound 2017 model Ford Edge SUV driven by Amanda Mullins of Ankeny was next to a northbound tractor semi-trailer with the owner unknown. Another northbound vehicle described as a 2018 model Mazda CX-5 SUV driven by Aiden Smith of Rockford,Minnesota was behind the Mullins SUV. When the vehicles crossed the bridge, Mullins lost control of her SUV and struck the side of the semi. The Mullins SUV then began to spin out and came to rest in the median. Mullins then maintained the lane, pulling off onto the north bound shoulder of I 35. The Smith SUV then hit the debris that came off the Mullins vehicle on the interstate. No injuries in the Saturday accident. Investigating Iowa State Patrol trooper Nick Adams estimated the damage to the Mullins SUV at $8000 and to the Smith SUV at $500. There was no report of any damage to the semi.
A three-vehicle accident just after 5 p.m. last Friday afternoon in Webster County happened at Baxter Avenue and Webster County Road D-36 near Moorland. Reportedly a 2025 model Chrysler Pacifica minivan operated by Thomas Zuffa of Westfield, Indiana was stopped at the stop sign facing north and then proceeded out into the intersection when it was struck broadside by a northbound 2023 Freightliner tractor/semi-trailer operated by Sturling Becker of Algona. The impact caused the Zuffa minivan to be pushed by the Becker semi in a northeasterly direction into a westbound 2023 Honda Ridgeline pickup driven by Lee Morrison of Gowrie. A passenger in the Zuffa van identified as Saira Zuffa from Westfield, Indiana was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines by Mercy Air ambulance for treatment of her injuries. Lee Morrison was taken to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge for treatment of injuries. Becker escaped injury in the Friday accident. Both the Zuffa and Morrison vehicles were totaled in the Friday accident with an estimated $25,000 in damage to the semi operated by Becker. The accident was investigated by Iowa State Patrol trooper Neil Morenz.