SULLIVAN, Mo. — One lane of eastbound Interstate 44 is back open after a crash involving multiple tractor-trailers near Sullivan, Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
Dallas Thompson with Missouri State Highway Patrol said Franklin County officials received a report of a crash involving as many as eight tractor-trailers in the eastbound lanes of I-44 at the 227 mile marker around 10:30 a.m. Highway Patrol dispatched troopers to investigate and check highway conditions.
Shortly after 11 a.m., MSHP Troop C confirmed that one lane of the highway was reopened. MSHP has not reported any injuries related to the crash.
MoDOT cameras showed eastbound traffic on I-44 was being forced off the highway near Sullivan with a police vehicle blocking both lanes.
Roads across Missouri have been covered all day Thursday as the winter storm dumps heavy snow across Missouri and Illinois. MoDOT officials urged everyone to stay home and off the roads unless travel was absolutely necessary.
5 On Your Side Meteorologist Anthony Slaughter said most of the St. Louis area was seeing up to 1 inch of snowfall per hour Thursday morning. That heavy snow is expected to last through midday before tapering off Thursday afternoon. The snow should be moved out of the St. Louis metro by around 5 p.m., Slaughter said.
MoDOT officials said gusty winds are making it difficult for crews to plow roads, which are becoming covered with snow as quickly as they're plowed. The state is also dealing with a shortage of resources, which will prolong the clearing process. MoDOT said its crews are prioritizing interstates and high-traffic highways.
Thompson said MSHP responded to 341 calls for service Wednesday, with 178 of those being stranded drivers. State troopers were called to 99 non-injury crashes and four injury crashes. No fatalities were reported.