The Iowa State Patrol investigated two motor vehicle accidents in Hamilton County during the past weekend with information released Tuesday morning…
Last Friday afternoon, there was a chain reaction accident at the westbound 142 mile marker to Highway 20 in rural Hamilton County. Reportedly a westbound 2011 model GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by Erasmo Rosales Sarmento of Fort Dodge was in the left lane of Highway 20 and a westbound 2016 model Ford Explorer SUV driven by Tina Marshall of Webster City. Meantime a westbound 2024 model Kenworth semitractor driven by Michael Smith of Chesapeake,Virginia was reportedly traveling too fast for conditions and struck both the Sarmento and Marshall vehicles. The Sarmento pickup was driven off the road to the left where it came to rest in the median. The Marshall SUV and the Smith semi were both able to pull over safely on the shoulder of the roadway. There was snow and blowing snow at the time of the accident. All three drivers escaped injury. There was severe damage to the Sarmento pickup, an estimated $1000 in damage to the Smith semi and an estimated $1500 in damage to the Marshall SUV. Investigating state trooper Ben Gunderson charged Erasmo Rosales Sarmento with No Driver’s License and Michael Smith with Following Too Closely.
Icy conditions on Interstate 35 at the 144 southbound mile marker near Williams was a possible factor behind a one car accident shortly before 1:30 last Saturday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reported a southbound 2018 model Chevrolete Malibu driven by Blake Morgan of Ankeny entered the median and hit a guardrail due to the ice. The guardrail end and two posts were damaged in the Saturday accident. Morgan escaped injury in Saturday’s accident. Investigating trooper Jesse Davenport estimated the damage to the Morgan car at $2000 with the damage to the guardrail and posts at $500.