Richard Matteson, 58, of Jonesburg, Missouri, was killed earlier this week when a van he was riding in was hit by an 18-wheeler truck. Two others were injured in the crash.
The accident took place Tuesday morning during rush hour traffic between four vehicles in St. Louis, Missouri, on Interstate 270 between Manchester and Clayton Roads. According to police, a van towing a trailer was in the middle lane of the highway, going south on I-270. The driver of the van attempted tried to merge left when its trailer struck a tow truck and then smashed into a different passenger vehicle. That passenger vehicle was then forced into the median of the interstate. The driver of the van then lost control of the van, which flipped over.
The driver of the 18-wheeler saw the crash unfold and attempted to avoid it, but was unsuccessful and crashed into the overturned van and its trailer. The van then caught fire, which spread to the trailer of the 18-wheeler.
Matteson was a passenger in the van, and died during the wreck.
The driver of the van, Thomas Schirmer, 53, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Alan Ramsey, 50, had minor injuries, and was also treated at Mercy Hospital.
It does not appear that the driver of the 18-wheeler or the driver of the tow truck were injured.
Police have not stated whether any charges will be filed against any of the drivers. Most of the highway was shut down for the rest of the day as the investigation took place. Site clean-up was required due to the high number of vehicles involved, as well as a spillage of materials from the trailer of the 18-wheeler, which was hauling vegetables.
