A woman attempting to help people involved in an accident on westbound I-44 in Eureka was killed Tuesday morning (Oct. 27) in a second crash at the scene, authorities reported.
Heather N. Baker, 30, of Kirkwood was killed. Jessie M. Christopher, 28, of Fenton and Tony R. Pope, 60, of Alabama also were injured in the second crash, Eureka Fire Protection District spokesman Scott Barthelmass said.
Baker and Christopher were traveling on the interstate in a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, and they pulled over to help people involved in an accident. A pickup hauling a trailer had hit the back of a tractor trailer at about 10:40 a.m., Barthelmass said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that no one was injured from the first crash involving the pickup and tractor trailer.
At 10:42 a.m., Pope was driving a 2005 International Tractor Trailer. As he approached the scene of the first crash, he tried to stop. The tractor trailer began to skid and hit a 2016 Honda CRV from behind, the Highway Patrol reported.
The tractor trailer then jackknifed and went off the right side of the highway, hitting Baker and the Jeep that she and Christopher were traveling in before the accidents. The tractor trailer then ran into the 2018 Freightliner that had been involved in the first accident, the crash report said.
Jody J. Ambert, 68, of Eureka was driving the CRV. The Highway Patrol did not report any injuries for Ambert.
Pope was seriously injured in the second accident, and Christopher was moderately injured. Both were transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur by the Eureka Fire Protection District, according to the crash report.
Baker was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:53 a.m. by Eureka Fire Protection District personnel, the report said.
Pope was in satisfactory condition, and Christopher was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said today (Oct. 28).
The International Tractor Trailer and Jeep were totaled, and the Honda and Freightliner were moderately damage, the Highway Patrol said.
The westbound lanes of I-44 near Lewis Road were closed from about 11 a.m. to about 3 p.m., Barthelmass said.