A Pacific man was killed in a two-vehicle accident Monday morning (May 4) on Old Hwy. 66 near Fox Creek Lane between Pacific and Eureka in St. Louis County, and a Eureka Police officer who was trying to put out a fire from the collision was hurt when a gas tank exploded, officials reported.
Eureka Police Capt. David Wilson said Monday afternoon the officer, Mark Tinkham, had minor injuries and already was home from the hospital.
However, one of the drivers involved in the accident, Joshua J. Townsend, 32, of Pacific, was pronounced dead at the scene by Eureka Fire personnel, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
The other driver, Mathew D. Dumey, 38, of Ballwin, had minor injuries, the report said.
At 7:19 a.m., Townsend was driving a 1999 Lexus ES300 west on the highway and crossed the center of the road, and the front of the car struck an eastbound big rig head-on, according to the report.
Dumey was driving the big rig, a 2019 Kensworth T880, the report said.
When police and firefighters arrived on the scene of the accident, both vehicles were on fire, the Eureka Fire district reported on its Facebook page.
Tinkham was working to extinguish the fire and free one of the trapped drivers when the explosion occurred, according to the Facebook post.
Tinkham was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, where he was treated and released, the patrol reported.
Both Townsend and Dumey were wearing seat belts, the report said.
The two vehicles were totaled, according to the report.
Wilson said Tinkham has been a Eureka Police officer since 1998.