Troopers said the crash was weather-related. Snow fell across western Iowa as a slow-moving storm expected to drop almost a foot of snow in some areas crawled into the state.
The deadly accident happened before 4 p.m. around mile marker 96, a few miles east of the Stuart exit. The eastbound interstate lanes were closed for almost four hours.
The pickup had been traveling west, the State Patrol said, before apparently losing control and sliding across the median and into the path of the eastbound semi.
The names of those killed were not released late tonight pending notification of kin.
Forecasters said central Iowa residents can expect 6 to 8 inches of snow by Tuesday. A winter weather advisory was issued for the western half of the state.
The heaviest precipitation in Des Moines will likely come Monday and Monday night, although snow may continue through the end of the weather advisory at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Highways in the western third of Iowa were mostly or completely covered with snow, the Iowa Department of Transportation said at about 7:30 p.m. today.
Authorities in western Iowa responded to several other weather-related car accidents Sunday evening, with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office saying it received numerous calls.
Some cities said their snow ordinances would go into effect today.
The storm system is expected to make its way slowly east across the state. Areas of southwest Iowa could receive 8 to 11 inches of snow, said National Weather Service meteorologists. But dry air to the northeast will likely limit snowfall there to 1 to 3 inches.
This season’s snow accumulation remains well below average.
Des Moines has received about 11 inches this winter, 20 inches less than it had last winter at this time.
Des Moines is about 4 inches below average to date, and much of the state is below average, too. Only the northern counties have had heavier amounts.
Provided By: Desmoinesregister.com
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