A vehicle crash on Highway 54 south of Jefferson City left one person dead and shut down westbound lanes on Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred in Cole County at 11:32 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. 54 and Monticello Road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).
A 2011 Volkswagen Jetta reportedly attempted to cross U.S. 54, failing to yield to a 2014 Ford Edge. The driver of the Volkswagen, a 21-year-old man from Kansas City, was pronounced dead at a medical center at 12:19 p.m.
The Ford driver, a 79-year-old woman from Crocker, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. MSHP confirmed both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident.
Emergency response teams closed westbound lanes for investigation and cleanup. Further details regarding the crash are pending as the investigation continues.