Semi Truck Collides With Burlington Northern Sante Fe Train
(Le Mars) — A semi truck with a gravel belly dump trailer collided with a Burlington Northern-Sante Fe train Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:15 p.m. The accident occurred at West Le Mars about three miles west of town. The semi truck appeared to be heading east on Highway 3 going down a hill when it had collided with the northbound train. The train was pulling grain box cars. It is not known whether those rail cars were empty or full. There didn’t appear to be any grain that had spilled at the scene of the collision, which may lead to the assumption the rail cars were empty. The train did not appear as if it was pulling any rail tankers. At least there were no tankers in the immediate vicinity of the accident scene, so there wasn’t any additional danger following the collision. Warning signal lights on the crossing arm appeared to be operating while rescuers were working the scene of the accident. The driver of the semi truck and trailer was airlifted by helicopter and transported to a Sioux City hospital. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office confirms the individual suffered serious injuries. Traffic on Highway 3 needed to be detoured while emergency officials were working the scene. The truck was part of the G-C-C concrete fleet of trucks. Responding to the scene of the train and semi truck and trailer accident were the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars Police, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation – road division, Iowa Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, and Burlington Northern-Sante Fe rail officials. The accident remains under investigation.
Pair of New State Laws Aimed at Helping Volunteer Firefighters
(Des Moines, IA) — A bill that became law this week increases the state tax credit for Iowa volunteer firefighters from 100 to 250 dollars. Another measure approved by the governor will let voters approve a property tax levy to support the operations of a local fire department. About 90 percent of the firefighters in Iowa are volunteers and Iowa Firefighters Association president Nick Riley of Traer says legislators recognized volunteer firefighters took on new risks during the pandemic as emergency responders, transporting Covid patients to hospitals. Riley says the association is hoping to take another step in 2022 and get legislative approval of a pension fund that volunteer firefighters could contribute to. Riley says the Iowa Firefighters Association has found a financial institution that will manage it.
Drought Conditions Getting Worse Across Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) — The new map from the U-S Drought Monitor shows worsening conditions across Iowa. Only five percent of the state is shown as having normal conditions, all in the southeast, while drought gained more ground practically everywhere else. Parts of eastern and far southwestern Iowa are
in the abnormally dry category, but the majority of the state’s in drought. A week ago, 56-percent of Iowa was in moderate to severe drought, now, it’s 76-percent. Severe drought covers about 40 of the state’s 99 counties, including virtually all of northern Iowa and much of the central region.
Suspect Pleads Not to Guilty to Murder of Missing Davenport Girl
(Davenport, IA) — The man accused of killing of ten-year-old Breasia Terrell of Davenport claims he’s innocent. Forty-eight-year-old Henry Dinkins pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping Wednesday in Scott County.
Investigators say Dinkins kidnapped Breasia from a Davenport apartment, shot her and then hid her body last summer. Her body was found in late March near DeWitt. A trial date has not been set. Dinkins remains in the Clinton County jail. He has a son with Breasia’s mother.
Muscatine Police Credit Bystanders For Saving Sexual Assault Victim
(Muscatine, IA) — Muscatine police say two people out for a walk saved a woman from a sexual assault. Authorities say they got a call from the bystanders who reported the woman hanging out a mobile home window calling for help. Officers responded to the address and found the assault in progress.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jeromy Griffith was arrested and charged him with third-degree sexual abuse and serious domestic assault. The incident is still under investigation.
