Weather Keeps Buchanan Co. Deputies Busy with Traffic Accidents

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office had a busy Saturday evening (March 9), responding to numerous traffic accidents caused by another round of winter weather, making area roads and highways extremely slippery.

The first one reported, happened at about 4:30pm on Highway 20 at the Quasqueton Diagonal Boulevard overpass. A car driven by Megan Crotts of Urbandale went out of control, spun around and struck the guardrails on both sides of the highway, at the base of the overpass. The car came to a rest along the side of Highway 20. No one was injured.

About 15 minutes later, at 4:45pm Saturday, deputies were called to a traffic accident at the 258 mile marker of Highway 20, where a car driven by Emma Schmidt of Oelwein, slowed for traffic ahead of her in the westbound lanes. Her car was rear-ended by a car driven by Riley Kolthoff of Independence. Kolthoff, along with Schmidt and her 3 passengers, were taken to the Independence hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The accident is still under investigation, and charges are pending.

Also at about 4:45pm Saturday, Buchanan County deputies were summoned to a one-vehicle rollover accident on Highway 150, south of Independence. A Jeep driven by Glenn Van Staalduine of West Union, was northbound when he lost control of the SUV. The vehicle went into the ditch where it rolled over, coming to rest, upside down. Injuries were minor, and no medical services were needed.

And just before 6pm, officers responded to a one-vehicle accident on Highway 187, south of Lamont. A 2019 Hyundai Sport Utility Vehicle driven by Faisal Nuh of Des Moines was headed south when the vehicle went out of control, went into the ditch, and rolled over, coming to rest on it's wheels. There were no injuries.