Three people were injured Saturday night in two related crashes on eastbound I-44 in Crawford County.
The first crash happened around 9:15 p.m. on May 23, 2026, at mile marker 223. A 2022 Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound when its driver was reportedly aggressively braking in front of a 2016 Dodge Dart. The Dodge struck the rear of the Ford and then continued into the median. The Ford remained stopped in the passing lane after the crash.
A 20-year-old woman riding in the Ford suffered minor injuries and was taken by EMS to a local hospital. Both vehicles were totaled.
About one minute later, a second crash happened at the same location. The Ford Explorer had been abandoned in the passing lane after the first crash. An eastbound 2011 Ford Escape then struck the rear of the Ford Explorer.
The Ford Escape driver, an 18-year-old man, and a 16-year-old girl riding in the vehicle both suffered serious injuries. Both were taken by EMS to a local hospital. The Ford Escape and Ford Explorer were both totaled.
The reported facts describe an extremely dangerous chain of events. Aggressive braking on an interstate can give another driver little time to react, especially at highway speeds. Leaving a vehicle stopped in the passing lane after a crash can create an even greater hazard for approaching traffic.
While the reports do not assign legal fault, the conduct described here is serious. Interstate drivers have a responsibility to avoid reckless maneuvers and to keep stopped vehicles from becoming hazards in active travel lanes. Behavior that causes one crash and then leaves other motorists exposed to a second collision is exactly the kind of roadway danger that should be stopped.
All facts reported upon are based on preliminary investigation done by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
