Coggon, IA (February 21, 2026) – One man was injured in a head-on crash involving a semi-truck and a pickup on Friday morning on Highway 13 just south of Coggon. The collision occurred shortly after 9:00 a.m. on February 20, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews responded to the scene near Heatons Valley Rd and found a heavily damaged pickup in the west ditch and a semi-truck with front-end damage along the shoulder. Authorities say the semi, traveling northbound, jackknifed into oncoming traffic after being affected by a strong wind shear, resulting in a head-on collision with a southbound pickup.
The pickup driver, identified as 60-year-old Daniel Burlage of Marion, was trapped inside his vehicle. Fire crews extricated him from the wreckage before he was transported to Mercy Hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
The semi driver, 37-year-old Bashir Chaudry of Ontario, Canada, was not injured.
Multiple agencies, including Coggon Fire, Prairieburg Fire, Central City Fire, Linn County Hazmat, and Iowa State Patrol, assisted at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. We are thinking of the injured individual as they receive medical care.
How Weather-Related Incidents Can Cause Serious Truck Collisions
High-profile vehicles like semi-trucks are particularly vulnerable to weather effects such as wind shear, which can cause a sudden loss of control. In open or rural areas like Highway 13, strong gusts may lead to jackknife accidents, where the trailer swings out and blocks oncoming lanes.
These scenarios are especially dangerous when passenger vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction with little time to react. Emergency responders in such crashes must work quickly to assess injuries and secure the scene, especially when victims are trapped inside wrecked vehicles.
Investigators typically evaluate wind conditions, driver speed, and braking response in determining what led to the crash. These types of incidents highlight the importance of caution during adverse weather, particularly for commercial drivers operating large rigs.
