Storm Draco Brings Snow and Treacherous Travel Conditions

Storm Draco brought Ames several inches of snow, slick roads, a power outage and a 25-car pileup on Interstate 35 caused two deaths and injured seven more.

The Iowa Department of Transportation closed the Interstate at U.S. Highway 30 in Ames about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

The road was closed due to deteriorating conditions, according to a release from Story County Emergency Management. All drivers were directed into Ames to stay at area hotels and semi drivers were allowed to park their trucks between Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum.

The Department of Transportation has not said when it would reopen so county officials prepared as if the closure would last through the night.

Iowa State Patrol Spokeswoman Jessica Lown said people have been warned about the coming storm and told not to travel.

"It's time to start taking it seriously," Lown said adding that drivers need to stop and wait out the storm

"It's not worth your life," Lown said.

Earlier in the day Story County officials said they were dealing with multiple accidents and calls from stranded motorists and the Iowa State Patrol said two people had died in an accident on Interstate 35 near U.S. Highway 20.

Though the snow let up the wind continued blowing, reducing visibility in much of the state and around Ames.

Story County was one of 15 counties under a tow ban placed by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. 

The Iowa State Patrol reported that two people died in the 25-vehicle chain reaction accident on Interstate 35 north of Ames. The crash occured north of the Williams exit passed U.S. Highway 20.

Closer to home, a semi-tractor and trailer full of cattle tipped on its side on Highway 65, according to the Story County Sheriff's Office. Another semi-tractor trailer jackknifed at mile marker 118 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 and temporarily blocked both lanes of traffic.

The Sheriff's Office had also been asked to help the Iowa State Patrol with shutting down southbound traffic on Interstate 35 at exit 102 to Huxley because of several crashes that occurred near the 96 mile marker in Polk County. 

Within the city of Ames, roads were slick, but few accidents and no serious accidents had occured.

Ames Police CMDR James Robinson said there were as many as nine minor accidents reported overnight and about 19 vehicles were towed from snow routes.

Robinson said for the first major storm in quite some time things were going pretty well.

"Allow yourself extra time to reach your destination and slow down," he said.

The National Weather Service extended its blizzard warning until 9 p.m. Thursday.

The sun should return Friday, but the windchill might be as low as 10 degrees below zero, the forecast said.

Story County to closed its offices at 3 p.m. and removed all plows from the roads at 5 p.m.

Story County Emergency Management offered these tips for staying safe in the storm.

• Anyone who does travel should tell someone about their route.
• Make sure cell phones are fully charged.
• Dress as if you would have to walk home.
• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes dry clothes, boots, blankets and a shovel.