More than 30 hurt in multiple I-80 crashes

Multiple fiery crashes injured more than 30 people on Interstate Highway 80 in eastern Iowa on Friday, authorities said.

One incident involved six vehicles, and one person was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said.

Yet, no one was killed.

"Call it a miracle," Ludwig said.

Emergency personnel were called to the first crash near Williamsburg at about 3 p.m. Friday. Additional accidents occurred as traffic backed up along the interstate.

Dennis Holcomb, 53, a semitrailer truck driver from Sumner, S.C., watched one accident unfold in his rearview mirror and rushed to help pull an unconscious semi driver from his burning vehicle.

Holcomb said vehicles were backed up along I-80 westbound because of another accident when a semi rear-ended the stalled vehicles, setting off a chain reaction.

"This guy didn't hit his brakes. I don't know what he was thinking," Holcomb said.

The semi that failed to stop burst into flames. Holcomb and other motorists located the unconscious driver, who had been tossed to the bottom of the cab, and pulled him out through an overhead window.

"We were fighting the fire and getting him out at the same time. I was just doing the Lord's work," Holcomb said.

He said the driver regained consciousness as they pulled him out.

Diesel fuel from the semi spread across the interstate, igniting other vehicles, including a tour bus. The occupants had exited all the vehicles before the fire started.

Two passenger vehicles, two semis, and a bus were destroyed by fire, Iowa County Sheriff Robert Rotter said.

Approximately 12 people were transported to UI Hospitals and Clinics. Eight were taken to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, and 12 were treated and released from Marengo Memorial Hospital in Marengo.

Kenneth Rempher, chief nurse at UI Hospitals and Clinics, said as of 8 p.m. two people were in critical care, three were in intermediate care and two were in general acute care. Five people were still being evaluated.

"I have seen accidents this large, but this one had a higher number of injuries than I've seen before," Rotter said.

Both Rotter and Ludwig advised motorists to stay alert and focused on driving when they come upon an accident.

"If people were paying attention, slowing down and looking ahead, it could have possibly been avoided, but I'm not sure," Ludwig said.

I-80 in both directions was at a standstill after the accidents, and a portion of the interstate was closed until about 7 p.m. as emergency crews responded to the crashes.