Highway 61 was shut down after multi-vehicle crash

CLINTON Co., Iowa (KWQC) - Law enforcement responded to multiple crashes Wednesday morning on Highway 61 in Clinton County due to dense fog.

Around 8:30 a.m., Clinton County deputies were dispatched to Highway 61 and 250th Avenue for a multi-vehicle crash.

The crash involved three semi-tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle. The crash scene covered the north and southbound lanes of Highway 61, requiring law enforcement to stop traffic in both directions.

Due to the limited visibility created by dense fog, traffic approaching the crash scene was not able to adequately see the emergency vehicles or emergency workers, deputies said.

The approaching vehicles failed to slow down and created a substantial risk to the first responders trying to investigate the original crash, deputies said.

While investigating the initial crash, deputies said there were at least four more crashes that occurred in the northbound lanes of Highway 61 and the surrounding area.

Highway 61 remained closed for approximately 2 ½ hours until all the damaged vehicles could be removed from the roadway and the roadway could be cleared of debris, deputies said.

Medic EMS transported two injured people to area hospitals. Six others were treated or checked at the scene, deputies said.

The conditions of the injured persons were unknown Wednesday afternoon.

The crashes are under investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the DeWitt Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation-Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa DNR/Conservation, Dewitt Fire Department, Welton Fire Department, Delmar Fire Department, Grand Mound Fire Department, Davenport Hazmat, Genesis Ambulance, Medic, Maquoketa Ambulance and Iowa Department of Transportation- Dewitt Office.

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