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Pileup on I-20 in Iowa kills 1, involves truck hauling acid

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February 5th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

WELLSBURG, Iowa (AP) — (Updated) Authorities say a hazardous materials team was called to a fatal pileup on Interstate 20 in north-central Iowa that involved a semitrailer hauling sulfuric acid. The pileup happened Thursday afternoon near Wellsburg and involved 15 vehicles, including several semitrailers and a tanker carrying 5,000 gallons of sulfuric acid.

Officials say the Haz-Mat team was called to help contain a leak in the wreckage. The Iowa State Patrol says one person was killed in the crash, but had not released that person’s name or other details by late Friday morning. Authorities say at least two other people were injured in the pileup, which occurred as blizzard conditions swept the state. The injured include 66-year old Christopher Thomas Triplett, of Kahoka, MO, who was driving a Lincoln Navigator, and 25-year old Jacob Riley, of Keokuk, who was driving a 2017 Dodge Charger. Both men were wearing their seat belts.