A two vehicle accident in Henry County shuts down U.S. Highway 218.  The Henry County Sheriff’s office says around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon, 68 year-old Gary Smith of Cumming failed to notice in time a pickup towing a farm trailer loaded with round hay bales, driven by 53 year-old Paul Spiekermeir of Donnelson.

He was traveling at a slower speed when Smith’s van struck the back of the trailer, scattering the hay bales onto the highway.  Both vehicles and the trailer came to rest on the median shoulder.

Southbound lanes were shut down to remove the hay from the road.  Neither drivers were injured in the accident; however Smith’s van and the farm trailer were considered total losses.  Smith was cited for failure to maintain control and failure to have insurance.

Responding to the scene were the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation Enforcement, Salem Fire and Rescue, and Henry County Ambulance.