ST. LOUIS — All southbound lanes have been reopened following an hours-long delay on Interstate 170 near St. Louis Lambert International Airport after the highway was shut down due to a fatal car crash Thursday afternoon, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
Two vehicles were involved in the crash near Frost Avenue, authorities said. One person died and two others were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, two people in a BMW were stopped in one of the southbound lanes of I-170 due to mechanical issues. A Hyundai Elantra that was also heading southbound slammed into its rear. Both vehicles started to skid, causing the BMW to travel off the right side of the road and hit a concrete barrier.
The driver of the Hyundai Elantra was pronounced dead at the scene. MSHP identified the crash victim as 39-year-old Ronaldo Butler from Ferguson. The two men in the BMW suffered minor injuries.
The crash caused traffic to be backed up for hours as first responders worked to clear the scene. All southbound lanes of I-170 were reopened as of 6:45 p.m.
This is a developing story. Tune in to 5 On Your Side for the latest details.
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