Woman and two children die in fiery crash on I-270
CONCORD, Mo. – Three people died in a fiery crash on northbound I-270 Friday. All three victims were in the same vehicle, which included a woman and her two young daughters.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol tells FOX 2 that a truck hauling lumber pulled over onto the inside shoulder of the ramp from I-55 to I-270 at around 8 a.m. The driver thought there was an issue keeping the load secure. After stopping, the truck was struck from behind by an SUV.
“Young lives that are lost—it is very tragic for everyone. Especially the family and their friends,” Cpl. Dallas Thompson from Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
He said the driver jumped out to help the passengers in the SUV but the car quickly caught fire.
“He was able to get out and he helped to remove the one juvenile from the vehicle but was unable to get to the other two to do any kind of life saving measures to them,” Cpl. Thompson said.
Woman and two children die in fiery crash on I-270
The victims have been identified as Michelle Yaeger, 45, and her two daughters, aged 7 and 10.
The 10-year-old was taken to the hospital after the crash and later declared deceased. Michelle and the 7-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash closed I-270 for at least an hour. Thompson said the area between the two highways frequently sees crashes.
“That vehicle crossed onto the left shoulder where that truck was stopped…It wasn’t part of the area where you’re supposed to be driving into, but it is an area we do see often people will cut across there,” he said.
The deadly crash was not the only accident in the area Friday. On the other side of Highway 55, emergency crews worked on an accident involving an overturned tractor trailer with at least five cars involved in the pile up.
Emergency crews urged drivers to be extra cautious with the additional holiday traffic out on the roads.
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