Train strikes semi-truck as Iowa derailment turns deadly

Train strikes semi-truck in eastern Iowa, leaving one person dead and another seriously injured after the collision led to a derailment on the Iowa Interstate Railroad.

Iowa train crash leaves major railroad damage

According to Poweshiek County Sheriff Matt Maschmann, the semi-truck crash happened Wednesday in a rural area where a state highway crosses the Iowa Interstate Railroad. The location is about 70 miles, or 113 kilometers, east of Des Moines.

One person in the semi-truck died, and another person was transported with “serious injuries,” Maschmann said. The statement did not identify the victims or provide further details about what led to the collision.

Train strikes semi-truck and derails railcars

The impact caused 17 train cars and two power engines to derail, according to the Associated Press. Maschmann said the crash caused “significant damage” to the railroad, showing the scale of the wreck beyond the injuries reported in the semi-truck.

Images from the scene showed railcars piled up heavily, with smoke rising from the wreckage. Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla said no hazardous material was spilled after the derailment.