Wrong-way driver on Cedar Rapid’s I-380 causes multiple crashes

CEDAR RAPIDS — A driver hit two semis and two passenger vehicles while going northbound on southbound Interstate 380 Thursday, stopping traffic near the 42 Street NE exit while Cedar Rapids firefighters extricated people from three vehicles.

After hitting the four vehicles, the driver stopped near 42nd Street, got out of his car, stripped and ran from the scene in near zero degree weather, according to a Cedar Rapids police spokesman. He was apprehended and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

No charges have been filed pending testing and interviews, the spokesman said.

The driver of the northbound Ford sport utility vehicle tried to go between a southbound semi and a passenger car, but hit both. The truck tipped on its side, spilling a load of corn. The other vehicle, severely damaged, stopped in the median.

The SUV continued north, causing severe damage to another passenger vehicle and light damage to a second semi.

Police said there were no life-threatening injuries.

Police and firefighters spent more than two hours on the scene extracting three people from the vehicles involved.

It was the second day in a row that public safety workers were involved in lengthy outdoor situations in the bitter weather. Wednesday, they were called on to close downtown Cedar Rapids streets and sidewalks after wind gusting up to 50 mph caused scaffolding to disengage from the U.S. Bank building.