Just after 7:30am on June 19th in Callaway County, a massive pile-up occurred on Interstate 70 in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 139.2. As morning congestion caused vehicles to slow, a Peterbilt 389 truck failed to stop in time and crashed into the rear end of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado. Due to the size and weight of the Peterbilt, it hit the Silverado with enough to force to hit a Ford Explorer in front of it, and then a Mazda in front of the Explorer. The huge Peterbilt received moderate damage in the crash, the Silverado and the vehicle in front of it, the Explorer, both received extensive damage and were towed from the scene. The Mazda had moderate damage, but was operable and driven from the scene.
The driver of the Silverado suffered minor injuries in the collision, and was taken privately to the hospital. Three occupants of the Explorer were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, including a young toddler, and the driver went to the hospital as well after suffering more moderate injuries.
Driving on the highway and around semi-trucks requires the upmost level of caution and awareness. It also requires effort from drivers of all vehicles; we should all be allowing plenty of room between vehicles, and giving semis enough time and space to come to a stop. From the commercial driver’s perspective, they should be paying close attention to the road as they need a significant amount of road to come to a stop, especially at interstate speeds. This crash is a reminder of just how quickly things can escalate when heavy vehicles are involved. Extra space, vigilance, and patience can make the difference between a safe commute and a multi-vehicle pile-up