Chaos briefly reigned on a stretch of I-55 last night after a disastrous wrong-way collision claimed the lives of two drivers.
According to a social media post from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the incident began unfolding just after 7:30 pm when 911 operators were flooded with calls about a gray Kia SUV that was seen driving counter to traffic after entering northbound I-55 from the Truman exit. Within a short timeframe, District 3 received reports of a collision involving the aforementioned Kia SUV and a white Corvette near the Gasconade entrance ramp.
The immediate consequences were fatal: the drivers of both vehicles, identified only as an adult woman operating the Kia and an adult man behind the wheel of the Corvette, perished at the scene. Following the incident, authorities shut down northbound I-55 at the 4500 block of S. Broadway to facilitate a thorough investigation by the Accident Reconstruction unit.
After several hours of closure, which no doubt caused significant traffic disruption and commuter dismay, the police department delivered some relief to area motorists this morning. "UPDATE: I-55 has been reopened in all directions," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department announced, signaling an end to the immediate ordeal. Nevertheless, the ramifications of last night's tragedy will likely reverberate for the families involved, and raise yet more questions about road safety and measures needed to prevent such incidents in the future.
