IOWA CITY – The first major snowfall of the season also caused the first snow plow accident in Iowa City, authorities said.
A car with Wisconsin plates was struck by a snow plow in the dead end of Meadow Ridge Lane when the operator attempted to avoid an illegally-parked vehicle on the street before 6 a.m. Thursday, according to John Sobaski, assistant superintendent with the Iowa City Streets Division.
Sobaski said the cost of the damage was unknown, but the driver’s side door of the vehicle was dented only. The snow plow vehicle was not damaged, nor was the local car that was parked illegally.
A police incident report was taken.
According to the city’s Snow Emergency Ordinance, street parking is limited to allow easier access for snow plows when road conditions become hazardous. This ordinance affects many residents who only have street parking available to them outside the Central Business District.
No alert has been put into place Thursday, but the city encourages residents to register for emergency e-mail or text alerts at http://www.iowa-city.org/icgov/apps/subscribe/.
The city gives a minimum of four hours notice before the street parking ordinance is put into place.
