Highway 54 in Holts Summit opens after wrong-way crash

Highway 54 in Holts Summit was temporarily closed Tuesday afternoon after a wrong-way crash.

Holts Summit Police told ABC 17 News a person was driving the wrong way on Highway 54 near Center Street when they struck a Holts Summit Police Department cruiser.

Police said they had gotten a tip about the wrong-way driver and had sent the officer to keep traffic out of that driver’s path. Authorities said the wrong-way driver struck the cruiser as it approached the officer’s road block. That driver apparently did not immediately stop after hitting the cruiser. Police said the officer forced the wrong-way driver off the road.

Police tell us the officer who was in the damaged cruiser is in good condition.

Authorities said the wrong-way driver was taken to the hospital to get checked out. It’s unclear whether or not that person was hurt.

Holts Summit Police said U.S. Highway 54 eastbound was reduced to one lane shortly after the crash around 12:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Corporal Scott White with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said, “We try to act as fast as we can in these situations because it just takes a split second for a very terrible crash to happen.”

They said the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Crash Team is investigating the crash.

Stay with ABC 17 News for the latest on this developing story.