2 killed in Interstate 70 crash after tractor-trailer crosses median
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Seven vehicles including at least one tractor-trailer were involved in an Interstate 70 crash in west Columbia that killed two Monday afternoon.
The crash shut down the eastbound lanes and the westbound passing lane for several hours starting at about 2:30 p.m.
The tractor-trailer was in the westbound passing lane on Interstate 70 near the Stadium Boulevard exit when it hit a vehicle in the driving lane, went over the median and hit a U-Haul truck head-on in the eastbound lanes, Columbia Police Department spokesman Brian McNeil said.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene and another at a hospital, McNeil said. Both of them were women riding in the U-Haul, which caught fire after the collision, he said.
McNeil said an unknown number of people were also injured in the crash and taken to a hospital.
The crash happened near Stadium Drive at about 2:30 p.m. An ABC 17 News reporter at the crash scene saw a car on its side and another vehicle and the tractor-trailer with damage.
The response also shut down Interstate 70 Drive S.W.
An ABC 17 News reporter saw a tarp being brought out as first responders approached the U-Haul.
Travean Caldwell said he was driving his semi-truck on Interstate 70 when he came across the crash.
Caldwell described seeing the tractor-trailer's wheel come off, before the driver of it lost control, go over the guardrail and hit multiple vehicles. He said he quickly slammed on his brakes to avoid becoming apart of the crash, and saw the U-Haul go up into flames.
Caldwell said he applauds the work of the Columbia Fire Department for their response.
"It was a lot of gasoline and diesel, all that pretty much mixed on the road whenever we was trying to help them get out the car," Caldwell said. "If it weren't for them, I feel like the U-Haul would have blew up because I mean the fire extinguishers just wasn't working."
Caldwell said Monday's tragic moment makes him think about his own experiences driving a truck and reflected on what he was taught while in CDL school.
"As I was seeing it I thought back to the moment whenever I was in school and I was like okay this is exactly what they be talking about in school....make sure we're doing our inspections and stuff," Caldwell said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol wrote in a post on social media platform X that the crash closed both eastbound lanes and the westbound passing lane and eastbound traffic was being diverted on Stadium Boulevard.
The road remained closed at about 4:30 p.m. and traffic was still being rerouted. The interstate reopened before 6:20 p.m. Traffic throughout central and western Columbia became congested during the closure.
🚨BOONE COUNTY TRAFFIC ALERT🚨@ColumbiaPD is investigating a serious injury crash on eastbound I-70, between Stadium Blvd and West Blvd on Columbia. Both eastbound lanes and the westbound passing lane are shutdown.
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) August 5, 2024
Eastbound I-70 is being diverted onto Stadium Blvd. pic.twitter.com/S27zeYxctL
