DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police are on the scene of a crash Friday with at least one injury but as many as three reported.
The crash occurred at the intersection of MLK Jr. Parkway and Bennett Avenue, just north of Hickman Road, and "one driver has run from the scene," DMPD said on X.
Police believe three people suffered minor injuries and one person ran from the scene of the crash.
Local 5 News spoke with a man who spend lots of time along the street, and said he feels like there are a lot of crashes in the area.
"It's really like scary," said Amos Elijah Korvah. "Most of the time, I am driving out here and this is usually where I come to wash my car. Most of the time it's a lot of crashes out here, and stuff like that. And I just see people, and the police, and all that stuff, so like it's really, really scary."
Elijah while he was vacuuming his car nearby, after the crash happened, he remembered hearing ambulance sirens and lots of police cars rolling down the street to assist at the scene.
Traffic on southbound MLK Jr. Parkway was being diverted at Bennett Avenue but all lanes have since reopened to traffic.
"Please stay alert for first responders and expect temporary traffic delays in this area," police said.
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation's Iowa Crash Analysis Tool (ICAT):
- As of 2024 - not including Friday's crash- - three crashes in 2024 have occurred on just the street, seven occured directly on the intersection of MLK and Hickman
- In 2023: nine total crashes on the street alone, 10 additional crashes at the intersection
- Since DOT starting tracking: 94 total accidents on just the street dating back to 2014
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