Tractor-trailers struggle on I-44 as MSHP responds to nearly 400 crashes during snowstorm
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to nearly 1,200 calls for service during Tuesday’s statewide snowstorm, with tractor-trailer crashes becoming a major issue in the southern portion of the Show-Me State.
From 9 a.m. Tuesday-3 p.m. Wednesday, MHSP says it received 1,186 calls for service and reported 521 stranded motorists. During that stretch, there were 374 crashes across the state, resulting in 42 injuries and two deaths. A number of these incidents occurred along the I-44 corridor.
— MSHP General HQ (@MSHPTrooperGHQ) February 19, 2025
Statewide Storm Totals
9 AM Feb. 18 - 3 PM Feb. 19
1,186 Calls for Service
521 Stranded Motorists
374 Crashes
42 Injuries
2 Fatalities pic.twitter.com/vRixOgmqr1
Tractor-trailers contributed to hazardous conditions, with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office posting on social media that it responded to “multiple incidents” Tuesday afternoon at Exits 166, 147 and 145 on the westbound lane of Interstate 44. The Missouri Department of Transportation added a multi-vehicle crash closed westbound I-44 for much of the day, forcing traffic to be diverted at Exit 11. Traffic was backed up 20 miles on the interstate.
MoDOT’s spokesperson Linda Horn said the issues on I-44 in Phelps County resulted from the terrain and bitter temperatures. The single-digit temperatures made some of the chemicals and salt used to treat the roads less effective.
However, Pulaski County Sheriff Stacey Ball wrote on social media that many tractor-trailers struggled to navigate the snow, with some tractor-trailer drivers passing Sheriff’s Office and MSHP vehicles—that had their lights flashing —at 60-70 mph in unplowed lanes before merging. Ball noted that while some truck drivers took precautions by slowing down and using their hazard lights, others created dangerous conditions for law enforcement responding to crashes.
Horn added that MoDOT has been working with the Highway Patrol to clear multiple “multiple crashes and stalled vehicles” along the I-44 corridor. Steep hills along I-44, especially near Rolla and Doolittle in Phelps County, made travel difficult for tractor-trailers during the winter storm. When one truck gets stuck, traffic quickly gets backed up due to the high volume of commercial vehicles. Many trucks face mechanical issues after prolonged stops, including frozen brake lines and gelled diesel fuel. Crews have worked continuously to clear blockages, but Horn says that as of Wednesday afternoon, trucks continued getting stuck.
Storm chaser recalls dangerous I-44 conditions
Aven Bange began chasing storms two years ago after watching live-streamed storm chasers on YouTube. Now, he travels across Missouri, documenting severe weather for his social media page.
“I enjoy weather, and I enjoy helping people,” Bange said. “With storm chasing, those go hand-in-hand—whether it’s helping someone change a tire, doing search and rescue after a tornado, or just being out there with friends doing something we all love.”
After seeing Tuesday's forecast the 18-year-old decided to head down to Springfield from Boone County to cover the winter storm. While he was in Springfield he got a firsthand look at the whiteout conditions.
“I-44 was a mess," he said. "At one point, there were there was a tractor-trailer that was in front of me. I cannot see anything because his tires kept throwing up snow. And I was going about 30 so I could back off from him a little bit just to be able to see. Nearly got rear-ended at that point, too, because everyone else was having trouble seeing.”
Bange said whiteout conditions made travel especially dangerous.
"At one point, there were there was a tractor-trailer that was in front of me. I cannot see anything because his tires kept throwing up snow," Bange said. "I was going about 30 so I could back off from him a little bit just to be able to see but I nearly got rear-ended at that point, too, because everyone else was having trouble seeing."
While Bange says he never got stuck, like several other motorists he saw on I-44, he was forced to take a detour due to a major crash in west Springfield.
Bange got stranded in Springfield Tuesday night after his four-wheel drive stopped working in the snow, adding that the area outside his hotel received at least six inches of snow. He added while his car never got stuck in the snow like several other motorists he saw on I-44, he was forced to take a detour due to a major crash in west Springfield.
“A semi that had jackknifed and then another car had hit that semi," Bange explained. "That's one thing that you really got to be careful about is also giving people, especially semis, a little bit more room in case something like that does happen where you have some time to slow down."
