A multi-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 55 near Festus disrupted traffic Sunday afternoon and left a child injured, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m. and involved three vehicles. Northbound lanes and one southbound lane were temporarily closed as crews cleared the scene, KSDK reported.
The patrol’s report indicated that a Lexus ES350 and a Toyota Corolla were slowing for traffic when a Dodge Ram 3500, driven by an Oklahoma man, struck the Lexus from behind, causing it to hit the Corolla. The Lexus was totaled, the Corolla sustained heavy damage, and the Ram was moderately damaged but could be driven from the scene. The incident happened about a week after a fatal pileup in the same area that killed three people, one of whom was identified by family as Darla Parris, according to First Alert 4.
Local residents expressed safety concerns over ongoing construction along I-55, which they believe contributes to frequent accidents. The Missouri Department of Transportation stated that the I-55 corridor in Jefferson County is undergoing long-term upgrades to improve traffic flow and infrastructure. According to FOX2now, all northbound lanes reopened around 4 p.m. after the area was cleared.
