A Festus man and a Valles Mines woman were injured early this morning (June 12) in a two-vehicle accident on I-55 at the 187 mile marker between Imperial and Arnold, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
At 12:57 a.m., Dennis P. Murphy, 56, of Festus was driving a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan south on the interstate, allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed, and the minivan ran partly off the right side of the road and then struck a southbound big rig, the report said.
Ricardo A. Caballeria, 55, of Winder, Ga., was driving the big rig – a 2006 Freightliner M2. No injuries were reported for him.
However, Murphy was seriously injured, and a passenger in the minivan – Tracy L. Carr, 46, of Valles Mines – was moderately injured, and both were taken by Rock Township Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, the report said.
Caballeria and Carr were wearing seat belts, but Murphy was not wearing one, the patrol reported.
The Grand Caravan was totaled, and the Freightliner had minor damage, the report said.