Possibly impaired driver causes accident in interstate after traveling the wrong way
Jeremy McClure
At approximately 6:30 am on Dec. 7 a Chevy pickup was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes on Interstate 29. The pickup truck struck a SUV nearly head-on between the 148 and 147B exits.
A Sioux City woman in the SUV sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Mercy One.
The pickup continued on in the wrong direction to the area of the railroad bridge where it was spotted by a SCPD officer on his way home from the night shift. The officer observed the vehicle run into the concrete barrier repeatedly before going back northbound on the interstate with no lights. The officer relayed this information to officers approaching the area until losing sight of the pickup truck.
A WCSO Deputy spotted the vehicle getting on the Gordon Viaduct eastbound after Woodbury Communications received a call from a citizen following the vehicle off the interstate. The pickup truck failed to stop for the deputy, at which time a SCPD officer forced the vehicle to a stop. Both the Gordon Viaduct eastbound and I-29 northbound were completely closed for a short time while the scenes were processed and injured tended to.
The pickup truck driver, 32 year old Nickolas Diediker of Concord, NE, was charged with OWI, felony eluding, leaving the scene of an injury accident, no proof of insurance, reckless driving, no headlights, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.
Agencies involved in the incident were the Sioux City Police Department, Sioux City Fire / Rescue, Woodbury County Sheriff's Office, Iowa DNR, Iowa State Patrol, and Sergeant Bluff Police Department.
Arrests and charges noted in this matter are considered merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.