News : RV vs. Benton County Semi driver causes Traffic Delay on U.S. 61/151

A crash involving a recreational vehicle and a semi caused a three-hour traffic disruption on the U.S. 61/151 bridge in Dubuque on Tuesday. The accident occurred around 3:08 p.m. when an RV, driven by 67-year-old Leslie Gast of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, failed to yield while merging onto U.S. 61/151 from the 16th Street entrance ramp.

According to Dubuque police, Gast's RV collided with a semi-tractor trailer operated by 50-year-old Charles White of Belle Plaine, Iowa. The impact forced White's semi into a guard rail, which caused one of the semi's side fuel tanks to rupture, spilling approximately 135 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway.

No injuries were reported in the crash. However, both vehicles sustained significant damage, with White's semi incurring an estimated $75,000 in damages and Gast's RV suffering $20,000 in damages.

Dubuque firefighters responded to the scene and spent three hours using absorbent materials to clean up the spilled diesel fuel. Crews cleared the site by 6:18 p.m.

Gast was cited for failure to obey a yield sign. Following the incident, a bridge inspection was ordered to assess any potential damage from the crash. As a result, the entrance ramp from Kerper Blvd. to U.S. 61/151 was closed for part of Wednesday. Lane reductions on the southbound lanes of Highway 61/151 near the Kerper Blvd. exit are scheduled for Thursday and Friday to facilitate further inspections and repairs.