Multi-vehicle pileups shut down Interstates 35 and 80 in Iowa
A winter storm triggered multiple-vehicle crashes on major Iowa highways on March 5, 2025, resulting in the closure of sections of Interstates 35 and 80.
Whiteout conditions, combined with wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph), created hazardous driving conditions, leading to multiple pileups across the state.
One of the largest incidents occurred in the afternoon on I-35 near Ankeny, where a pileup blocked the northbound lanes. Earlier, a separate crash involving several trucks and cars took place on westbound I-80 near Newton, approximately 56 km (35 miles) east of Des Moines.
The Iowa State Patrol issued an urgent travel warning.
A separate pileup on southbound I-35 near Huxley, approximately 32 km (20 miles) north of Des Moines, occurred on the morning of March 5, involving at least 15 vehicles, according to Iowa State Patrol Trooper Rodney Larson. Although no fatalities were reported, nine people sustained injuries, and a state trooper’s vehicle was struck.
Iowa State Patrol troopers responded to 68 crashes statewide between 21:00 LT on March 4 and noon on March 5, including several incidents of vehicles skidding off highways due to ice-covered roads.
Video footage from the scenes on I-35 and I-80 captured vehicles struggling in whiteout conditions. One segment showed trucks jackknifed and stranded, blocking traffic, while another depicted cars attempting to navigate near-zero-visibility conditions. The storm’s intensity caused delays for emergency crews trying to reach crash sites.
The incident has been compared to a deadly 2018 pileup in the same region that involved approximately 70 vehicles.
Multiple roads, including sections of Interstate 80, Iowa 44, Iowa 141, and U.S. Highways 20, 6, and 59, remained closed as of noon on March 5.
References:
1 Multi-Car Pileups Shut Down Iowa Interstates – The Weather Channel – March 6, 2025
Featured image credit: Iowa State Patrol
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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