Personal injuries in Highway 30 collision
Greene County sheriff’s deputies were busy the afternoon of Jan. 16 as unexpected icy roads and blowing snow created problems for motorists.
Travel on Highway 30 west of Grand Junction was stopped for about 20 minutes while emergency personnel dealt with a personal injury accident that occurred at 4:03 pm near County Road P-33. Three sheriff’s deputies, Greene County EMS, Grand Junction fire and rescue and the Jefferson fire department responded to the scene. According to information from the sheriff’s office, Alejandro Silva, 34, of Dodge City, KS, was westbound when he lost control of his vehicle due to snow and blowing snow. He slid into the eastbound lane, striking a vehicle driven by Jennifer Lynn Sills, 39, of Ames. Both drivers and a passenger in Silva’s vehicle were transported to Greene County Medical Center for medical attention. Silva was cited for failure to maintain control. His 2001 Ford F150 pickup truck and Sills’ 2011 Toyota Rav 4 were estimated to be total losses.
While deputies responded to that collision, sheriff Steve Haupert responded to an accident that occurred at 4:09 pm on County Road N-63 just west of C Ave in Willow Township. Jonathan Edward Heydon of Coon Rapids was eastbound on N-63 when his vehicle was struck from behind by Zachary David Smith of Scranton. Snow and blowing snow were noted as contributing factors. There were no injuries and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene. Damage to Heydon’s 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was estimated at $10,000. Damage to Smith’s 2006 Ford F150 pickup truck was estimated at $15,000. Charges are pending further investigation.
The difficult afternoon began at 2:40 pm with a one vehicle rollover accident at the intersection of Highways 25 and 30 at the north edge of Scranton. Ashley Marie Voege of Jefferson was westbound on Highway 30 when she lost control of her vehicle on the snow covered roadway. She entered the south ditch and her 1998 Ford Explorer rolled over. Voege was transported by private vehicle to Greene County Medical Center for medical attention. Her vehicle was determined to be a total loss.
At 4:56 pm a deputy checked the report of an unoccupied vehicle in the ditch on County Road E-53 just east of Q Ave east of Jefferson. The owner was contacted and reported the vehicle would be removed Friday.
At 5 pm a deputy checked an occupied vehicle in the ditch on Highway 30 just west of R Ave, about one mile from the accident an hour earlier. The driver said he was attempting to slow for the vehicle in front of him and slid into the ditch. The driver was not injured and his car was not damaged.
A deputy was dispatched to an accident on private property in the 400 block of Lincoln St in Scranton at 5:37 pm. The report did not indicate if the collision was accident-related. According to the report, Linda Gustoff of Scranton attempted to back out of a residential driveway and struck a vehicle driven by Jeannie Gustoff, also of Scranton. Linda Gustoff’s 2002 Chevrolet Venture was estimated to be a total loss. Damage to Jeannie Gustoff’s 1994 Chevrolet S-10 pickup was estimated at $1,500.
