A late-night collision on southbound Interstate 55 in Perry County left one man dead and another seriously hurt after two vehicles crashed near the 133-mile marker Friday. Emergency crews rushed both men from the scene, with the passenger later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital and the driver taken to a regional trauma center.
How troopers say the wreck unfolded
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2025 Volvo VNL slammed into the back of a 2011 Nissan Murano that was stopped in the right lane at about 10:33 p.m. Troopers report the Volvo came to rest on the south shoulder, while the Nissan veered off the roadway and ended up in the grass.
The patrol’s preliminary report notes the Volvo sustained moderate damage, the Nissan was destroyed, and both vehicles had to be towed away from the crash site.
Victims and emergency response
Local reporting identifies the Nissan’s driver as a 63-year-old man from Hazelwood who was transported by Mercy Perry Ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center, and a 65-year-old man from St. Louis who was riding in the Nissan and was later pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital Perry at 11:24 p.m., according to KTTN.
The Volvo’s driver was reported as a 61-year-old man from Van Buren, Arkansas, who was wearing a seat belt. Troopers listed the seat-belt use of the Nissan’s driver and passenger as unknown in the initial report. Highway patrol troopers and local EMS units responded to the scene, and investigators remained on the shoulder and in the median into the night as traffic rolled past the damaged vehicles.
I-55 corridor seeing a string of serious crashes
This latest collision adds to a growing list of serious wrecks on the I-55 corridor. Earlier this month, a deadly semi-tractor crash farther south shut down lanes of the interstate, according to KFVS.
Officials say heavy truck traffic paired with long, rural stretches of highway can heighten the risk of rear-end and high-speed impacts. Local authorities continue to urge drivers to slow down when they see brake lights or hazards ahead, leave extra space, and move over for stopped vehicles when it is safe to do so.
Investigation still underway
Troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the crash and have not yet released a probable cause while they review evidence and statements. Anyone with information is asked to contact the patrol’s Troop C office as the inquiry remains active.
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