Police: Scheels Grand Opening Possible Catalyst for 3 Car Accidents in Cedar Falls Saturday

Three separate car accidents on a notoriously dangerous stretch of Cedar Falls road Saturday may all have been connected to one thing: Scheels.

The sporting goods store celebrated its grand opening with throngs of shoppers and a packed parking lot March 5. Cedar Falls Police Chief Jeff Olson said the heavier-than-usual traffic heading to Viking Plaza may have contributed to the three accidents.

None of the accidents resulted in serious injuries, he said.

As cars waited to turn left from Highway 58 onto Viking Road, which would take them not only to the new Scheels but also Target, Walmart and Blaines Farm and Fleet, the left turn lane filled and stopped cars backed up into the main lane, Olson said. The accidents Saturday, which involved a two-car, three-car and four-car collision, were mostly rear-end collisions.

"We have a fair share of accidents there," Olson said. "Especially in the section of Highway 58 between Greenhill and Viking roads."