An Illinois woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident that shut down westbound I-44 at mile marker 260 near Six Flags in Eureka Wednesday afternoon (July 5), the Missouri State Highway Patrol reports.
At 2:15 p.m., Donato Venecia, 44, of Aurora, Ill., was driving a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo west on I-44, “traveling too fast for conditions,” and the SUV ran off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail and both passengers in the vehicle were ejected, the report said.
Another SUV, a 2001 Cadillac SRX, following behind the Rodeo struck one of the passengers, according to the report.
After the Rodeo struck the guardrail, it returned to the interstate, ran off the left side of the road and struck a concrete traffic barrier, the report said.
No injuries were reported for Venecia or for the driver of the Cadillac – Morgan M. Penny, 47, of Jerseyville, Ill.
The two passengers in the Rodeo were Elizabeth Venecia, 39, of Aurora, Ill., who was pronounced dead at the scene, and Andre M. Venecia, 11, of Aurora, Ill, who was taken by ambulance to St. Louis Children Hospital. No information about his condition was available this afternoon (July 6).
Donato and Andrew Venecia and Penny were wearing seat belts, and Elizabeth Venecia was not wearing one, the patrol reported.
The Rodeo was totaled, and the Cadillac sustained minor damage, the report said.