MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Mo. — Two separate fatal crashes on Interstate 70 blocked traffic in Montgomery County on Monday afternoon, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F.
The first crash occurred at 2:41 p.m. near the 181-mile marker, involving two semitrucks. A 65-year-old man from Wellsville, Missouri, died at the scene, reportedly without wearing a seat belt. The second truck’s driver, a 63-year-old man from Magnolia, Texas, sustained minor injuries, having been properly secured with a seat belt.
Authorities report that the incident began when the Texas driver slowed down due to another incident upstream. The Wellsville driver rear-ended his truck, veering off the roadway and striking a barrier. Both semitrucks were declared total losses.
Approximately one hour later, a second collision involved a box truck and a motorcycle at the 182.2-mile marker. The 36-year-old male motorcycle operator and his 36-year-old female passenger, both from Kennewick, Washington, died at the scene. They were wearing helmets during the crash.
The motorcycle struck the box truck, which had halted due to traffic from the earlier incident. The box truck’s driver, a 60-year-old man from Fulton, was unharmed. The motorcycle was totaled, while the box truck sustained moderate damage.
Westbound I-70 was closed at around 1:45 p.m. past exit 183. The Missouri Department of Transportation anticipates a four-and-a-half-hour closure, with traffic expected to clear by 6 p.m. Heavy backups and delays were reported in the area.
These incidents follow a separate semitruck fire that caused earlier delays on I-70 in Montgomery County on the same day.