A Catawissa man was seriously hurt and a Dittmer man also was injured in a three-vehicle accident Friday afternoon (April 3) on I-44 in Fenton.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Joshua Kaiser, 29, of Dittmer was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo west on I-44 at Mraz Lane at 4:55 p.m. when he was unable to stop for slowing traffic ahead and struck the back of a 1983 Plymouth Laser driven by Craig Mangan, 26, of Catawissa. The impact of the collision forced the Plymouth into the rear of a towed unit of a 2007 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by John Murifitt, 49, of West Jordan, Utah.
Mangan sustained serious injuries and was taken by Arch helicopter to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, the report said. Kaiser was checked by EMS workers at the scene and declined to be taken to a hospital, said the report, which made no mention of an injury to Murifitt.
An update on Mangan’s condition was not available.
All three drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, the report said.
Both cars were totaled, while the tractor-trailer had only minor damage and was driven from the scene, the report said.