Few storm-related accidents reported by Eastern Iowa departments

Area public safety workers responded to a fairly low number of weather-related calls between Thursday evening and Friday morning, officials said. 

The Cedar Rapids Police Department reported the highest number of accidents and traffic hazard calls. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said between 5 p.m. Thursday to around noon Friday, authorities received 30 reports regarding accidents, but only one involved an injury, and that injury was minor. Hamblin said the department received about 22 traffic hazard calls.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Vicki Lalla said about eight accidents were reported between 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 9:30 a.m. Friday. She said authorities received 19 motorist assist type calls, such as being stuck somewhere or being out of gasoline, but none was serious. Sgt. Lalla thinks the more forewarning there is about severe weather, the more prepared citizens are.

“A lot of activities were cancelled (Thursday) night, so not as many people were out,” Lalla said.

Waterloo Police Captain Tim Pillack and Dubuque Police Lieutenant Scott Baxter echoed similar statistics. Pillack said there were about five accidents from 5 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday, but all were fairly minor and had no serious injuries. Lt. Baxter said police responded to three crashes from 10 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday, but the wrecks involved no injuries.

“As always, our plow drivers are doing a fantastic job of clearing the roads,” Baxter said. “That helps immensely.”