Coroner confirms 6th death in multi-vehicle crash on I-57; entire interstate closed in Mississippi County, Mo.

KFVS 12 ^ | 3/17/2022 | Marsha Heller

[Paul R.]

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - Law enforcement is reporting multiple deaths and vehicle fires after a crash on Interstate 57 near Charleston on Thursday morning, March 17.

Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker confirmed an additional death on Thursday evening, bringing the total to six.

According to Zach Bolden, director of the Mississippi County EMS, it was foggy when they responded. They believe someone hit the brakes and a chain reaction followed.

[Paul R.]

Huge crash on I-57 in S.E. MO. 47 vehicles involved, many injuries in addition to the fatalities. I didn't see anything searching here on FR. Pics & vids at link. Reportedly multiple vehicles caught fire. This has been THE news story of the day, throughout the area. I'm pretty sure this region has never seen a crash with this many vehicles involved & both sides of the Interstate closed all day.

[Paul R.]

Prayers for all injured or killed. Families and friends too.

[john316]

Ridden that part of road many times, looks to be part of the tour de corn route. Prayers for all. I’ve spots along there in the winter that makes it look like coke slushy for miles.

[Adder]

Oh my...prayers for all involved.

Dash-cams?

[Paul R.]

Of note, fatalities were reduced back down to 5. Apparently, someone was double counted somehow, and all other injuries have not turned fatal. We can hope it stays that way...

I’ve not seen dashcam footage of the crash itself: Witnesses say it was foggy, then a bank of very dense fog rolled over the highway, a semi slowed abruptly (possibly due to a slowing vehicle ahead of it) and the semi was struck by a semi behind it, initiating the whole chain reaction. Also, apparently an early vehicle went across the median, causing crashes in the lanes in the other direction. (I’m not sure which was 1st, southbound or northbound.) Visibility was said to be 50 ft. or less. I’m guessing dashcams might only show fog until a vehicle “appeared” only a second or so before the dashcam. Likely some people got stopped in time only to themselves be rear-ended.

I would think that pulling off as far as possible would be wise, in such conditions: Another reason to have a good 4WD or AWD with good ground clearance and appropriate tires... Our Chevy Tahoe came with auxilary super bright red flashers in the back in addition to the regular red hazard lights - (was a SSV / non-pursuit vehicle) and I’m tempted to add similar to our Outback.