Rain contributes to dangerous day on I-70

Friday, October 9, 2009
By ERIC CRUMP/Editor

While no injury accidents occurred in Saline County during Thursday's persistent rain, three crashes on Interstate 70 just across the border in Cooper County affected motorists in both counties.

Eastbound I-70 lanes were closed for several hours Thursday, Oct. 8, after two crashes at the 91 mile marker blocked the roadway.

Traffic was rerouted south on U.S. Highway 65 to U.S. Highway 50.

The crashes occurred just after 10:30 a.m. The first happened when Kayla N. Findley, 19, of Boonville lost control of the 2003 Oldsmobile Aero she was driving on the slick road surface, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

The car went off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail and returned to the roadway, where it was struck by a 2003 Peterbilt driven by Rodney Ramsey, 43, of Calvin, Pa., troopers said.

Calvin's truck struck a guardrail and went down an embankment.

Both drivers suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall.

A second crash occurred near the same place just minutes later.

A 2005 International tractor-trailer driven by Lester Burns, 39, of Joplin hydroplaned on the wet roadway, went off the right side of the road and struck a guardrail, according to the MSHP report.

Part of the cab with the driver inside became separated from the trailer and went down an embankment, troopers said.

The trailer continued traveling eastbound, crossed the median cables and struck a parked vehicle, a 2007 Volvo. The trailer jackknifed, blocking both eastbound lanes, according to the report.

Burns was taken to Cooper County Hospital with moderate injuries. No name was given for the driver of the Volvo, but it was driven from the scene, troopers said.

A third crash occurred later in the day, about 5 p.m., also at the 91 mile marker.

A 2005 Freightliner driven by Paul Wesnel, 26, of Miami, Fla., was traveling too fast for conditions, according to troopers. The truck went off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail, went down an embankment and overturned.

Wesnel suffered minor injuries and was taken to Cooper County Hospital.

A passenger in the truck, Stanley Bienaime, 28, of Mirmar, Fla., suffered moderate injuries and was also taken to Cooper County Hospital.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on marshallnews.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I too wonder about that section of road. I have experienced standing water myself on I70 during moderate to heavy rain, although I don't remember the mile markers. Grant there are drivers out there that get careless, but as a general rule, comercial drivers are more skilled and less likely to be be involved in a reck than your average driver. Just remember, Truck drivers are the life line of America, keeping all the shelves of your stores full, food in you favorite resturaunts, gas at the stations. Everything you use, see, and touch is there because of a truck driver.

-- Posted by cahman8 on Sat, Oct 10, 2009, at 12:12 PM

I didn't see anything that said it was the truckers fault just his stupidty for driving like that in the weather condtions and yes thank god nobody was seriously hurt.

-- Posted by cpcrazy21 on Fri, Oct 9, 2009, at 3:10 PM

notgvnasht I drive on I-70 a lot and yes there are some bad truck drivers but there are way more idiots in cars.

Another thing does it not stand to reason that with all the wrecks at that mile marker over the years that there just might be a problem with the road?

At the very least with the wrecks in the mourning don't you think it would have been wise to put up a sign of possiable danger?

-- Posted by Gal66 on Fri, Oct 9, 2009, at 12:48 PM

Typical driving for truckers who are in a hurry and don't care how much danger they put innocent people in. Im so tired of sharing the roads with idiots in big trucks. they need to slow down. this time it was lucky no one was killed.

-- Posted by notgvnasht on Fri, Oct 9, 2009, at 11:22 AM