Semi collides with train near Amana, blocking busy highway

By Tom Barton – The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (TNS)

Dec. 26—The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

A semi truck collided with a train near Amana Thursday morning, temporarily blocking a busy highway.

Authorities said no one was injured, and traffic was detoured around the crash site.

The railroad crossing and highway were reopened by noon.

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office said the semi truck collided with a train at about 9 a.m., south of Main Amana on U.S. Highway 151.

Officials said Jackson Von Ahsen, 19, of South Amana, was driving south in a semi truck owned by Zuber Grain LLC, and failed to notice the eastbound train approaching the crossing, despite flashing railroad warning lights.

Von Ahsen sideswiped a pickup truck that had stopped at the railroad crossing, and then collided with the train.

The 2007 Kenworth semi tractor truck was a total loss. Damage to the train was estimated at approximately $2,000, according to the sheriff’s office. The pickup truck also was damaged. No value was given for that damage in a news release.

Iowa County Sheriff Robert Rotter said the wreck was cleared in about two hours. Traffic was detoured via local roads and Highway 220.

“Luckily the Amanas are one big loop, so detouring traffic isn’t a huge problem when there is a blockage within that loop,” Rotter said.

Von Ahsen was cited for failing to stop at an active train crossing.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com

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