KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsNebraska woman dies after accident on busy Siouxland highway

Nebraska woman dies after accident on busy Siouxland highway

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - The Nebraska woman involved in a fiery crash yesterday afternoon has died from the injuries she suffered in the accident.

Authorities say 59 year old Valarie Buchanan of Osmond, Nebraska, was merging onto the 520-bypass from Interstate 29 when she slammed into a refrigeration truck. 

The accident happened on Highway 20 westbound... above Interstate 29. 

Eyewitnesses say Buchanan's SUV was propelled to the front of the truck causing the two vehicles to collide a second time. 

That's when the semi burst into flames. 

Buchannan was pinned inside her car... but was pulled out by other drivers who had stopped to help. 

While authorities say the actions of the innocent bystanders are "commendable", they say if anyone is put in a similar situation, proceed at your own risk. 

"In a situation like this, you don't know what could be in the semi, what might be toxic, what could overcome you. And, our concern is that we might have a certain amount of victims, we don't want more victims," said Lt Rex Mueller, Sioux City Police Department. 

This accident was the first in a string of collisions during rush hour... and all of them happened within a one mile radius of each other. 

Less than thirty minutes after the initial incident... another accident happened just south of the first accident on I-29 involving four vehicles. 

Just 15 minutes later... another accident happened on the exit ramp on Highway 20 towards South Lakeport Road. 

And 10 minutes after that... a fourth incident happened southbound on Interstate 29. 

But, authorities say the three accidents following the initial incident could have been avoided. 

"Unfortunately this was just a cause and effect, after the first accident we started kind of having that chain reaction which was unfortunate, but I think it could have been avoided," said Mueller. 

Mueller says if you come up on an accident-- like the one last night-- the best thing to do is be patient, slow down and plan for detours ahead.

Online Reporter: Allissa Hopkins