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As Winds Ease, I-80 and I-35 Reopen After Pileups and Patrol SUV Strike

Officials attribute the chaos to fierce gusts that erased visibility rather than heavy snowfall.

Overview

  • A 30–40 vehicle crash on westbound I-80 near Ashland/Greenwood in Cass County, Nebraska, injured several people, including at least one in critical condition, and the roadway reopened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
  • The Cass County Sheriff's Office said an emergency vehicle was hit while responders worked multiple crashes along that I-80 stretch.
  • An Iowa State Patrol SUV was destroyed near I-80 mile marker 175 when a semitruck lost control; the trooper was outside the vehicle and was not hurt.
  • The Iowa DOT closed I-80 from near Council Bluffs to West Des Moines and shut portions of I-35, then reopened them as conditions improved, with ongoing recovery creating intermittent lane closures.
  • From 9 a.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, the Iowa State Patrol handled nearly 400 calls, including 99 crashes and 12 injuries, underscoring the risk posed by wind-driven whiteouts.