Kevin J. Purcell, 19, of Imperial was seriously hurt early this morning (Sept. 8) when he was riding a bicycle on I-44 and was struck by a big rig, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reports.
At 12:43 a.m., Purcell was headed east in lane 3 of I-44 west of Bowles Avenue in St. Louis County, and because of poor lighting, a Boliver man headed east in a 2014 Kenworth T660 didn’t see the cyclist and struck him, the report said.
Purcell then ran off the right side of the road, according to the report.
No injuries were reported for the Boliver man – Eric J. Harbord, 51.
Purcell was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, where he was listed in critical condition today, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Purcell was not wearing a helmet, the patrol reported, but Harbord was wearing a seat belt.
The big rig sustained minor damage, the report said.