1 dead, several seriously injured in 50-car pileup near Ames on I-35

Luke Nozicka
The Des Moines Register

One person died and several people were critically injured Monday in a major pile-up involving 50 to 70 cars, buses and semi-trucks that forced I-35 southbound and northbound to close near Ames, authorities said. 

Dana Easter, 53, of Independence, Missouri. was killed in the accident. Easter was driving a bus when five vehicles collided with each other, causing several injuries and the fatality.

The length of the crash on the highway was so long that Capt. Barry Thomas, of the Story County Sheriff's Office, could not see from one end to the other. Officials on scene, which included numerous fire and police agencies, were trying Monday afternoon to clear the roadway; everyone injured has received medical attention. 

Southbound traffic is opening to one lane after pileup closing Interstate 35 southbound Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, in Ames during a snow storm expecting to dump 4-6 inches in central Iowa.

Between three and five people who were seriously injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, Thomas said. He did not have additional details on the person who was killed. 

The interstate remained closed Monday afternoon between 13th Street and U.S. 30 in Ames near milemarker 116, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. It was the largest crash in the state Monday, said Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, a spokesman for Iowa State Patrol.

MORE: How much snow did Des Moines, other Iowa cities get?

While the crashes happened in the southbound lanes, the northbound lanes were closed to give emergency vehicles access.

"It's a mess," Ludwig said. "They're trying to get everyone to slow down."

Ludwig did not know how many crashes there had been statewide as of 2:45 p.m. State Patrol plans to release more information on the number of crashes and injuries Monday night.

Related:Iowa snow: How to keep safe while driving on slick roads

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