The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has released the details of the four accidents deputies responded to Tuesday. The first accident occurred at approximately 4:46 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and E Avenue north of Scranton. Their investigation shows a 2007 Ford Supercrew, driven by 36-year-old Benjamin Ellingson of Jefferson, had lost control on a patch of ice, entered the ditch and hit a fence. The Ellingson truck sustained approximately $8,000 in damage. At approximately 1:40 p.m., the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Jefferson and Scranton Fire Departments responded to the same intersection. Authorities say a 2000 Peterbilt semi-tractor trailer, driven by 28-year-old Derik Gonyier of Clinton, lost control on the slick roadway and came to rest blocking both lanes of Highway 30. Authorities were forced to empty the semi’s fuel tanks into barrels after a diesel leak was discovered. About 30 minutes later, a deputy was called to investigate a vehicle in the ditch near the intersection of Highway 30 and Eaton Avenue. The automobile was undamaged and the driver had left the scene prior to the deputy’s arrival. The final accident on Tuesday occurred in the 1000 block of D Avenue at approximately 7:38 p.m. Fifty-year-old Bob Martin of Statford was pulling a vehicle from the ditch using a cable stretched across the roadway. A 2017 Honda Civic, driven by 55-year-old Erich Palait of Scranton, struck the cable as he passed Statford, causing extensive damage to the Honda. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation due to a deputy’s personal vehicle being involved in the incident.
