A tragic incident unfolded on the streets of downtown where a man lost his life in a highway crash earlier this week. In a statement by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the victim has been identified as 38-year-old Justin Foree from Concord, MO.
Authorities from District 4 were called to the scene on January 4, at approximately 11 pm, following reports of an accident on the entrance ramp for the Poplar Street Bridge from I-55 Northbound. According to SLMPD, officers discovered a car that had collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer, with its driver found unresponsive, ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer, waiting for emergency services when struck, was not injured during the crash.
The SLMPD's Accident Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating the cause behind this fatal incident. Early reports suggest that the tractor-trailer was stationary due to stalling in the far left lane and had its hazard lights on, accompanied by safety triangles to alert other drivers. However, these precautions were not enough to prevent the subsequent tragedy.
As the community grapples with this loss, further details about circumstances leading up to the accident remain under close scrutiny by the officials. Family and friends of Justin Foree are now mourning a life cut abruptly short on the cold, unforgiving asphalt of a busy highway. For a stalled tractor-trailer with its hazard lights on and safety triangles out, the wait for aid turned fatal when struck from behind.
