Des Moines, IA (August 3, 2026) – Five people were injured in two separate crashes reported in Des Moines over the weekend. The first crash happened on Saturday, August 1, shortly after 11:30 a.m. at East 1st Street and Court Avenue.
According to the police, a 34-year-old driver was traveling west on Court Avenue at a high rate of speed when he struck another vehicle in the intersection. The impact pushed the second vehicle across the roadway and into a 64-year-old bicyclist. The other driver suffered minor injuries, while the bicyclist was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The driver involved in the crash faces multiple charges.
A second crash happened early Sunday morning, August 2, at MLK Jr Parkway and Ingersoll Avenue. Detectives said a 19-year-old driver in a Toyota SUV was traveling south when he ran a red light and struck a Jeep. The Jeep driver was ejected, and both vehicles caught fire after the collision. Bystanders removed the driver and a 16-year-old passenger from the Toyota before all three people involved were taken to hospitals with serious injuries.
Both incidents remain under investigation as authorities continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding each crash.
We are hoping everyone injured receives the care needed and continues toward recovery.
How Speed and Intersection Crashes Are Examined
Intersection crashes are reviewed by examining traffic signals, vehicle movements, roadway conditions, and driver actions before impact. Investigators may use witness statements, vehicle damage, and other available evidence to understand how the collision occurred.
Speed can increase the force of a crash and affect the severity of injuries. Reviewing factors such as braking, lane position, and visibility can help provide a clearer picture of what happened before the vehicles collided.
