Separate crashes on snow covered roads in two Iowa counties resulted in four deaths and numerous other injuries. The Iowa State Patrol reports one person died and two others were injured in eastern Iowa’s Cedar County, Monday afternoon.

The Patrol reports 21-year old Josephina Mae Buffington, of Fairfax, died at the scene of a 19 vehicle pile-up on Interstate 80 in Poweshiek County. Due to road and weather conditions, three vehicles were on the shoulder of the road at the westbound 190 mile marker, with one vehicle, a 2014 Econoline van, on the inside median shoulder and the second vehicle one the outside. A 2011 Freightliner semi driven by 31-year old Daniel James Mahoney, failed to stop in-time to avoid to avoid a collision with the vehicle on the inside median shoulder. Multiple other vehicles failed to stop or take evasive action, and collided with the original vehicles. An unknown, female driver of the van and an unknown passenger were injured. Both were transported to the Grinnell Hospital Emergency Room.

The Patrol says a 2010 Pontiac G6 struck a 2003 Toyota Corolla in the westbound lane of Interstate 80 westbound near Durant, at around 1:40-p.m. The driver of the Pontiac exited their vehicle and was standing in front the car, when a 2017 Ford Escape went out of control and hit the Pontiac, pushing it into the driver of that vehicle. The names of the victims in the crash had not been identified as of late Monday evening. The accident remains under investigation. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Tipton Ambulance, and Durant Fire/Rescue.

An accident in northeast Iowa’s Winneshiek County left two teenagers dead and four others injured. The Patrol says the accident happened at around 8:30-a.m. on County Road W-40, about one-half mile south of 173rd Avenue. A 1999 Oldsmobile Alero driven by 17-year old Avery Arneson, of Decorah, was traveling north on W-40, while a 2008 Ford F-150 was traveling southbound.

The Oldsmobile went out of control, crossed the center line and slid sideways before being struck on the passenger side by the pickup. Arneson, and his passenger, 13-year old Aden Arneson died from their injuries. Three other teens in the car were injured: 14-year old Alexander Arneson, 14-year old James Arneson, and 15-year old Jack Arneson. The passengers were all from Decorah.

The driver of the pickup, 15-year old Gage Dahlberg, of Decorah, was also hurt. All of the injured were transported by ambulance to the Winneshiek Hospital, except Alexander Arneson, who was taken to the Gundersen Hospital. All the occupants were wearing their seat belts.