Three Trucks Collide on Highway 13, Highway Now Open

By Becky Ogann


Story Created: Dec 19, 2007
Story Updated: Dec 19, 2007

DELAWARE COUNTY IOWA - Highway 13 is now open after a fiery crash Wednesday morning caused traffic problems between Manchester and Coggon. The thick fog that contributed to the collision isn't helping the clean-up effort either. Officers say visibilities were down to around 100 feet at the time of the accident.

A portion of Highway 13 just south of Ryan was closed for the investigation and clean up until around 4:50 p.m.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office says three semis collided at the intersection of Highway 13 and county road D-47 just south of Ryan. A state patrol sergeant said one truck driver was attempting to cross Highway 13 when that vehicle was struck by two other trucks. The fire started when one of the truck's diesel fuel tanks ruptured.

Earlier reports of an explosion involving a truck's cargo turned out to be untrue. Two of the trucks were carrying grain and one truck had empty plastic containers.

One of the drivers, Harold Minor, 46, of Lebanon, Texas suffered burns over 95 percent of his body and was taken to University Hospitals in Iowa City. No condition information was available from the hospital. Truckers James Hargrafen, 55, of Delhi, and Edward McCusker, 27, of Manchester, were treated and released.



My prayers go out to the driver still in ICU.