Woman impaled by pipe in northwest Cedar Rapids crash

CEDAR RAPIDS — A driver was impaled by a galvanized pipe early this morning in a single-vehicle accident in northwest Cedar Rapids.

According to police reports, 27-year old Kelsey Cummings of Cedar rapids was westbound on Zika Avenue NW near the 16th Street NW intersection when her vehicle crossed the centerline and ran into a galvanized gate.

Cummings was found conscious at the scene by emergency crews. When they arrived, they found the pipe, approximately two inches in diameter, had passed through the front grille, radiator and battery of the vehicle before impaling Cummings' pelvis area.

In order to extract Cummings, emergency responders had to dismantle the back seat and remove the doors and roof of the vehicle. The pipe was cut from the back and front sides of Cummings so that she could be transported for medical attention.

It is procedure for impaled objects to be left in place when they aren't impeding the patient's airway, officials said. The pipe was to be surgically removed at the hospital.

Cummings was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in serious condition.

The accident remains under investigation by Cedar Rapids police.