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Iowa State Patrol uses terrifying dash cam video as a teaching moment

Posted at 6:17 PM, Jan 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-20 19:17:10-05

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Neb. (KMTV) — The Iowa State Patrol shared terrifying video a driver caught on his dash cam showing a trooper helping a semi-driver, who slid into the ditch. Out of nowhere, a truck flies off the road nearly hitting the others and crashing to a stop.

Now, trooper Scott Miller is using the video to show drivers what not to do when driving in winter conditions.

"The only warning they had was the truck driver of the white pick-up was laying on the horn, so that's why you see them start looking back that way and running," trooper Miller said.

The semi-truck driver and passenger of the white truck suffered non-life threatening injuries.

"Somebody could have been hurt really bad," trooper Miller said. "We are fortunate nobody was."

The video has been viewed 222,000 times just on Twitter alone.

Iowa State Patrol is hoping drivers can learn something from it.

Trooper Miller says there are a few things you can do to make the roads more safe when driving in winter conditions.

He adds turn off cruise control, do not rely on four wheel drive, slow down and if you see an accident and flashing lights - move over.

"I believe if the driver of the pick-up truck would have slowed down and moved over like the semi did, as we showed in the video, that he wouldn't of slid into the ditch," trooper Miller said.

The driver of the white pick-up was cited with failure to maintain control.

Trooper Miller says he plans on using the video in future trainings and public service messages.