(Le Mars) — Recently, Plymouth County has seen a rash of vehicle accidents with two fatalities that have occurred within the last two weeks, and four accidents involving semi trucks. The Iowa State Patrol is concerned about the recent collisions and remind motorists when we take the wheel, we need to
make certain our total focus and concentration is with driving, and to make certain we are aware of our surroundings.
That’s Iowa State Patrol trooper John Farley. Farley says traffic had initially decreased on the roadways at the start of the pandemic, and as a result, we had fewer traffic accidents. But, since that time, traffic has again returned to pre-COVID numbers, and unfortunately we have seen a rise in traffic accidents, especially with fatal traffic accidents.
The Iowa State Patrol trooper says there is on average nearly one fatal traffic accident every day of the year somewhere across the state.
Farley says too many times, people don’t take special notice when they are informed of a fatal traffic accident.
With Plymouth County’s last two fatality accidents, in both instances, the vehicles failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle at the intersection. Farley says drivers need to think back to the days of driver’s education and remember to do the simple things we were taught.
With harvest now in full gear, Farley wants motorists to be expecting the unexpected. He says the roads now have more semi trucks traveling, as well as farm equipment, and drivers need to be thinking that those vehicles often drive slower, they may make a left-hand turn without signaling, and they may
appear suddenly, just over a hill.
