Three people were killed and five others injured in an eight-vehicle pileup at 3:27 p.m. Sunday on northbound Interstate 55, south of the 173.8-mile marker in Jefferson County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when Richard A. Holden, 45, of Greensburg, La., driving a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia northbound, failed to notice slow-moving traffic. The semi struck the rear of a Toyota Camry driven by a 63-year-old woman from Memphis, Tenn., pushing it into a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder driven by a 61-year-old woman from Rossville, Tenn. The chain reaction continued, involving a 2013 Kia Optima driven by a 53-yearold Pevely woman, a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by a 34-year-old Barnhart man, a 2015 GMC 1500 driven by a 54-year-old Arnold man, and a 2015 Toyota Corolla driven by a 27-year-old Crystal City man, before the GMC spun and struck a 2018 Ford F-150 driven by a 26-year-old Arnold man. The semi then hit the right side of the Ford F-150.
Killed were the Camry’s driver and a 63-year-old passenger in the vehicle, along with a 61-year-old passenger in the Optima. Both Camry occupants had been wearing seat belts; it was unknown if the Optima passenger was restrained. Their bodies were taken by Edwards Mortuary Service to the St. Louis County Morgue.
The driver of the Dodge Ram 1500 suffered serious injuries. The Freightliner’s driver had minor injuries. The driver of the GMC 1500, who was not wearing a seat belt, sustained moderate injuries. The Pathfinder’s driver, also unrestrained, suffered serious injuries. The driver of the Corolla, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained moderate injuries. All injured were taken by Joachim Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South.
All vehicles were totaled except for the 2018 Ford F-150, which sustained moderate damage, and the Freightliner, which had minor damage. All were towed by Miners Towing.
Holden was arrested on three counts of involuntary manslaughter and taken to the Jefferson County Jail, where he was placed on a 24-hour hold.
