A crash at the junctions of Interstate 35 and Highway 30 in Ames on Saturday afternoon killed an out-of-state driver. The victim is identified as 51-year-old Gary L. Parsons of Deposit, New York. Reportedly a 2007 Nissan Armada operated by 17-year-old Garrett Chitty of Ames was merging into the southbound lane of Interstate 35 from westbound highway 30.
As the Chitty car attempted to merge, it struck a semi-tractor-trailer driven by 56-year-old Lewis Thomas of Cleveland, Ohio. The impact sent the trailer of the Thomas semi slamming into the utility truck driven by Parsons causing the Parsons truck to go through the guard rail on the overpass.
The utility truck then rolled down an embankment before coming to rest on a guardrail near the westbound lane of Highway 30. Parsons was pronounced dead at the scene. Both Chitty and Thomas escaped injury. The accident remains under investigation by the State Patrol.