Around 10:15 this morning 2 people were killed and 40 plus injured from what the Missouri Highway Patrol is calling a Missouri chain-reaction automobile accident on I-44 near Gray Summit. As a semi truck cab – no trailer attached – neared a slowed convergence area, caused by an approaching construction zone, a GMC pickup truck slammed into the back of the cab. The normal speed limit for that area is 70 mph.
Behind the pickup truck two school buses carrying 8th to 12th grade band students were en route to Six Flags for their annual school trip. The first bus carried the female students, while the second bus carried the male students. The driver of the first bus states that she did not see the two vehicles stopped and ran completely over the GMC and up onto the cab of the semi truck – as shown in the picture below. The second school bus then crashed into the back of the first bus.
The female driver of the GMC truck and one female student was killed, while more than 40 more were transported to local hospitals for minor injuries. Two students, aged 16 and 13, are now in stable condition. At this time, no other information is available regarding the condition of the student passengers.
This stretch of highway has seen at least 19 Missouri motor vehicle accidents with 33 fatalities between 2000 and 2007. Most of the Missouri car accidents occur near the Six Flags exit lanes on I-44. See devastating St Louis Missouri truck accident involving family of five as one of many examples. Whether it is defective roadway planning or driver inattention, this area has seen more than their fair share of fatalities.
This is an ongoing and tragic story and the personal injury victims and their families are in our prayers.
