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A three-vehicle accident backed up traffic on Highway 163 near Pella for over a half an hour Saturday night. The accident happened shortly after 6:00 p.m. in the westbound lane of Highway 163 near mile marker 39 at the intersection of 195th Street.

Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Bigouette tells KNIA/KRLS news that a vehicle traveling southbound on 195th entered cross traffic on the highway and struck a westbound van in the right front of the vehicle. The collision spun the car into a third vehicle, a small SUV. The car and SUV came to a rest in the westbound lane, while the van was spun across the intersection into the eastbound lane and came to a rest facing south.

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A total of 11 people were traveling in the three vehicles involved in the accident, all of which appeared to be wearing seatbelts. Three people were transported by ambulance to Pella Regional with non-life threatening injuries, and at least two more were transported by private vehicle. The accident is being investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputy Bigouette says charges are pending against the driver of the southbound car.

Several departments assisted at the scene, including the Pella Police Department, Ambulance and Fire Department, Monroe Fire and Rescue and the Iowa State Patrol.
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