ST. LOUIS COUNTY – A fatal accident and fire involving a tractor-trailer closed all southbound lanes and multiple left lanes of northbound I-270 near Clayton Road for several hours Tuesday.
Crews reopened some of the lanes shortly after 3 p.m., and all of the lanes just after 5 p.m.
#BREAKING: ALL LANES of 270 SB in west #STL county have reopened, nearly 9 hours after deadly crash. @ksdknews
— Jacob Long (@JacobLong_KSDK) January 17, 2017
The accident was on the southbound side of the interstate, but crews spent most of the afternoon working to help clear the accident in the northbound lanes.
ALERT: Expext lane closures to remain in place for some time. Both NB & SB 270 down to one lane. #stltraffic pic.twitter.com/LbHXvi4UFz
— West County EMS&Fire (@WESTCOUNTYFIRE) January 17, 2017
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed one person died in the accident, and two others were taken to the hospital.
Four vehicles were involved in the crash. According to Cpl. Wheetley with the Missouri Highway Patrol, a van was towing a trailer with a Bobcat on it. When the van tried to change lanes, it clipped a tow truck, lost control, then struck a car. The van overturned and was struck by a semi.
The man who died has been identified as 58-year-old Richard Matteson from Truesdale, Mo. He was a passenger in the van.
The driver of the van and the driver of the car are listed in serious condition. Two people in the semi were not injured.
PHOTOS: Fiery crash on I-270
Scene video: Fatal crash on I-270
