Tractor Trailer Driver's Inattention Kills 2, Injures 3 on I-55 - June 03, 2010

Two people were killed and three others injured, one of them seriously, after an accident on northbound Interstate 55 at McNutt Road near Herculaneum in Jefferson County on Wednesday, June 2nd.
The accident involved an over the road semi truck and seven other vehicles in a chain reaction crash according to news reports. The names of the fatally injured individuals, one a 52 year old man and the other a 28 year old woman from Festus, have not yet been released pending notification of relatives. The victims were traveling in separate cars.
The driver of the tractor trailer was identified as Jay L. Valentine, 32, of Huntsville, Texas. According to Cpl. Jeff Wilson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Mr. Valentine "said he looked over to his right for some reason, and looked back, and traffic had slowed." Although the truck driver apparently swerved to avoid the slowed traffic, the tractor of his rig struck one vehicle, then ran over a Ford Focus driven by the deceased 52 year old man, dragging it for almost 100 yards.

After dragging the compact car, the truck veered off of it, creating a chain reaction collision with five other vehicles - one of which was a Pontiac Vibe driven by the 28 year old Festus woman.

The patrol's report lists "inattention" as a contributing factor of the crash. One witness, Angie Baiter, who was driving under the interstate when the crash occurred stated: "I heard the truck hit the car I didn't hear any brakes."

The patrol will issue a crash reconstruction report over the next several weeks. Because the investigation is continuing, it could be some time before the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney's office will determine whether charges will be filed in the fatal accident.