An accident that occurred Wednesday morning the intersection of Hwys 30 and U Ave (Hwy 144) could have been worse. As it was, it took nine hours to get both vehicles removed from the scene.
Greene County sheriff Jack Williams reports that he, a deputy, and Grand Junction Fire and Rescue responded at 8:58 to a collision at that intersection on the west side of Grand Junction.
Cole Wenger of Dedham was eastbound on Hwy 30 driving a 2019 Kenworth semi tractor pulling a 2021 Brenner tanker loaded with soybean oil. Jeffrey Gorman of Ogden was southbound on U Ave operating a 2012 International snowplow owned by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Gorman failed to yield the right of way and struck the rear axles of the semi and tanker. The semi and tanker struck the railroad crossing arms and then rolled onto its side in the south ditch.
Williams told the county supervisors Thursday morning that the tanker didn’t leak, but the soybean oil had to be offloaded before it could be picked up. “If the tanker had split open, we’d still be there,” he said.
There were no injuries in the accident. Gorman was cited for failure to yield right of way. There were no injuries.
Damage to the semi tractor was estimated at $150,000. Damage to the snowplow was estimated at $2,000. Damage to the railroad crossing was estimated at $50,000, and damage to the guardrail was estimated at $2,500. According to Williams, the roads were snow covered and snow was lightly blowing. Visibility was about a mile at the time of the accident.
