All lanes on northbound I-55 north of McNutt Street near Herculaneum were closed for about 45 minutes Monday afternoon (July 29) following a three-vehicle accident that left two people hurt, authorities reported.
At 2 p.m., James S. Redman, 61, of Bonne Terre was driving a 2019 Ford Focus north on the interstate and steered to the right to avoid hitting a northbound 2011 Ford F150, and the driver side of the Focus hit the rear of the pickup. Then, the pickup traveled to the right, and its passenger side struck the driver side of a northbound 2009 Peterbilt Conventional big rig, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
Martin W. Pinson, 60, of Festus was driving the pickup, and Bradley L. Johnson, 36, of Ripley, Tenn., was driving the big rig. No injuries were reported for them.
However, Redman had minor injures, and a passenger in the Focus – Amanda L. Redman, 93, of Park Hills – was moderately injured. The two were taken by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, the report said.
James Redman was treated and released, and Amanda Redman was listed in satisfactory condition today (July 31), a hospital spokesman said.
All those involved in the accident were wearing seat belts, the patrol reported.
The Focus and big rig were extensively damaged, and the pickup was moderately damaged, the report said.
Highway Patrol Cpl. Juston Wheetley said the traffic backup led to three other crashes in the area.
No one was hurt in those wrecks, he added.