Boone Woman Killed in Highway 30 Crash; Roundabout Project Planned for 2027
A 71-year-old Boone woman died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 30 near Boone on Tuesday, July 28, according to the Iowa State Patrol.
Barbara Johnson, a passenger in a 2014 Kia Soul driven by Kevin Johnson, 68, also of Boone, was life-flighted to Methodist Hospital after the crash. She died on Wednesday, July 29, from her injuries.
The crash occurred at 11:02 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 30 and Corporal Snedden Drive. Kevin Johnson, who was driving south on Corporal Snedden Drive, allegedly failed to stop and yield to through traffic on Highway 30, according to the crash report. His vehicle was struck by a westbound 2022 Chevy Silverado driven by Salvador Cervantes, 51, of Loomis, Washington.
Kevin Johnson sustained serious injuries and was transported to Methodist Hospital by Boone Emergency Services. Cervantes was not injured.
Roundabout Construction Planned for Spring 2027
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has already announced plans to install two-lane roundabouts at this intersection and at SE Marshall Street, just south of the Boone Walmart and a Casey's General Store. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027 and will likely last the entire construction season.
Final project plans will be completed this fall, with bids opening in January, Iowa DOT Assistant District 1 Engineer Jeremey Vortherms told the Ames Tribune on Wednesday, July 30.
The entire project is estimated to cost $8.9 million, with the DOT contributing $6 million and about $2.5 million coming from a Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy Program (RISE) grant. Both intersections will be built as one construction package, meaning a consistent work zone for commuters, but Highway 30 will remain open during construction.
During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the work zones, with eastbound traffic shifted to the south side and westbound traffic on the north side, Vortherms said.
Roundabouts Could Improve Safety Near New Daisy Brand Plant
The planned roundabouts are part of broader infrastructure improvements tied to economic growth in the area. The City of Boone and the Iowa DOT plan to extend nearby Hancock Drive to serve the new Daisy Brand plant, which is under construction just north of Highway 30. The plant will produce sour cream and cheese and is expected to create more than 255 new jobs in three years.
According to data from the U.S. DOT, roundabouts reduce fatal and injury crashes by 82%, compared to a 78% reduction from traffic signals. The Corporal Snedden Drive intersection leads to the Boone Municipal Airport and the Boone Industrial Park, areas critical to local economic development.
This tragic accident highlights the ongoing need for safety improvements at this intersection, which will be addressed by the upcoming roundabout project. The Johnson family and the Boone community are left to mourn the loss of a 71-year-old resident whose life was cut short on a road that will soon see major safety upgrades.