Updated 4:50 pm –
Names have been released in the three-vehicle accident that closed Highway 30 east of Jefferson for about five hours earlier today.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Travis Davis, 37, of Wayland was southbound on County Road P-33 (S Ave) driving a 2018 Wilson 402H owned by Travis Davis Trucking. He was hauling hogs. Jeffrey Mercer, 43, of Osceola was westbound on Highway 30 approaching P-33, driving a 2000 Kenworth tanker truck hauling diesel fuel.
Davis failed to stop as posted and struck the tanker portion of Mercer’s rig. After impact, Davis continued across Highway 30 and entered the west ditch on P-33 and stopped in a jackknifed position.
Mercer continued westbound and was able to pull his semi-tractor to the north shoulder, but the tanker-trailer detached, entered the south ditch on Highway 30 and ignited.
David Reed, 50, of Jefferson was driving a 2013 GMC Sierra 2500. His vehicle struck the debris field, entered the south ditch on Highway 30, and also ignited.
Davis suffered critical injuries and was transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services. Reed suffered minor injuries and was also transported to the medical center by Greene County EMS. Mercer was not injured.
Davis’s rig and Reed’s pickup truck were towed from the scene. The owner of the fuel tanker was not named n the Iowa State Patrol report. That vehicle was not noted as being towed.
The Greene County sheriff’s office, fire departments from Jefferson and Grand Junction, and the Region V HAZMAT team also responded to the scene.
