Lowe's truck driver allegedly falls asleep on Highway 30, causing collision with DOT truck
A driver of a Lowe's box truck reportedly fell asleep while driving on Highway 30 on Wednesday and crashed into an Iowa Department of Transportation truck that was equipped with a crash impact attenuator truck that may have saved lives.
An attenuator is a trailer or truck equipped with flashing lights and signage signaling the presence of DOT work crews. If an approaching motorist does not appear to slow down or move over for the crew, the attenuator operator has the ability to turn on additional flashing lights that shine at a higher frequency, according to the DOT. If a driver is still not responding to the visual alerts, the attenuator operator can then activate an audible sound in a final attempt to get the attention of the driver.
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In this case, according to the Story County Sheriff's Office, the driver of the DOT truck took evasive action by accelerating the vehicle forward and turning on the rear panic lights and the audible alert signals, which likely reduced the severity of the impact.
Neither of the two occupants of the Lowe's box truck or the DOT employee driving the impacted truck were seriously injured.
The investigation indicates the DOT had a series of vehicles in the westbound right hand lane of Highway 30 as crews were completing maintenance on a section of the roadway. At approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Lowe's truck was in the process of passing the DOT trucks in the left lane but then veered to the right into the lane where the DOT trucks were located.
The Lowe's truck collided with the lead DOT truck which had been stopped just prior to the accident.
The Lowe's truck initially collided with the rear driver side of the crash impact attenuator, which appears to have absorbed a portion of the impact. The Lowe's truck continued westbound, causing the passenger side of the truck to sideswipe the driver side of the DOT truck. Both trucks came to a rest in the traveled portions of Highway 30 westbound, closing the highway for more than 90 minutes.
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The Lowe's truck suffered severe functional damage and was towed from the scene. The DOT truck suffered minor functional damage and did not need a tow.
The Story County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Nevada First and Fire Department and the Story County Medical Center Ambulance.
The DOT and the Story County Sheriff's Office reminds Iowans that along with Iowa's spring weather that can bring damaging storms, the warm weather also brings out road maintenance crews. The DOT has several major road maintenance and construction projects planned for Highway 30 this year. Motorists are encouraged to be alert and cautious when approaching road maintenance crews.
"Move over, slow down and pay attention to our roadways so all highway workers go home safe and alive at the end of their shift," the Story County Sheriff's Office said in a press release about the incident.
Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowa for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa DOT safety equipment likely saved lives in Highway 30 crash
