Iowa DOT Officer Survives Grisly Accident [PHOTOS]
Wednesday seemed like it would be a routine day for one worker with the Iowa Department of Transportation. The Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer was tasked with helping direct traffic away from other DOT workers who were doing pavement patching ahead of her on an Iowa interstate. Unfortunately, one driver wasn't paying attention.
According to an accident report from the Iowa State Patrol, 56-year-old DOT worker Theresa Fox of Ankeny was driving a DOT vehicle, a 2015 Chevy Tahoe, in the right lane of Interstate 29 in Fremont County Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2:45 p.m. The report says she had the DOT vehicle's "emergency lights activated & arrow stick for traffic to merge left upon approach."
The crash report says 34-year-old Makalim Rafkat of Florida, who was driving a 2018 Volvo semi, didn't merge and crashed into the back of Fox's SUV. Her vehicle left the road and rolled before coming to rest on its wheels.
KJAN reports Fox was taken to Grape Memorial Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa where, remarkably, she was treated and released for minor injuries.
Fox posted the photos below yesterday along with the messages:
I had a bad day at the office. Slow down and get over for my lights. FYI I’m ok. Thanks to Hamburg fire and rescue and Grape Community Hospital for the fine service. I'm very lucky indeed. FYI seatbelts save lives! Just sayin.’
It's a good time to remind everyone that Iowa's 'Move Over' law requires all drivers to "change lanes if possible or slow down when they approach any vehicle with flashing lights." And that you should never take your eyes off the road.