The Missouri State Highway Patrol is seeking charges against a 30-year-old Barnhart man who was involved in an accident in which two people died on Tuesday (Dec. 18) in St. Louis County, the patrol reported.
At about 2:50 p.m., the Barnhart man was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 north on I-55 south of I-270, when he changed lanes and struck the back of a 2013 Nissan Cube, which had been stopped in traffic, the report said.
The Cube spun and was forced into the driver’s side of a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia, a tractor-trailer that also was stopped in traffic, according to the report.
The driver of the Cube, Patricia E. Callaghan, 71, Florissant, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:01 p.m. by Mehlville Fire Protection District personnel, the report said.
A passenger in the car, John Callaghan, 82, Florissant, was transported to Mercy Hospital South (formerly St. Anthony’s Medical Center) in south St. Louis County. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at the hospital, according to the report.
The patrol is seeking charges against the Barnhart man for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and careless and imprudent driving, according to an arrest report. He will not be named unless he is charged.
The Callaghans were both wearing seat belts, the report said.
The Barnhart man suffered a minor injury and was transported by Mehlville Fire to Mercy South, where he was treated and released, a hospital spokesman said Thursday (Dec. 20).
He was wearing a seat belt, the report said.
There were no injuries reported for the driver of the tractor-trailer, Oleksandr Voytouych, 52, of Harwood Heights, Ill. He was also wearing a seat belt, the report said.
The pickup and car were totaled, and the tractor-trailer had minor damage, according to the report.