–Law enforcement officials say icy road conditions contributed to a 2-vehicle crash that closed US Highway 169 in rural Humboldt County Friday afternoon.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, 38-year-old Jose Mejias Pacheco of Algona was northbound on Highway 169 in a 2006 Dodge Ram truck around 3:15 PM. The accident report states that the highway was 100% ice covered at the time, and Mejias Pacheco lost control of his truck and crossed the centerline 2 miles south of Livermore before colliding head-on with a 2022 GMC Sierra, driven by 44-year-old Nicholas Marsh of Humboldt.
Mejias Pacheco came to rest facing west in the east ditch, while Marsh ended up facing south in the west bound ditch. Mejias Pacheco reported minor injuries and was taken by Humboldt EMS to Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Marsh had to be extricated from his vehicle by mechanical means. He was taken to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines with his injuries classified as serious.
Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, and each vehicle was considered a total loss. The highway eventually reopened once law enforcement and EMS personnel were able to clear the scene.
