ST. LOUIS – Two different crashes shut down stretches of Interstate 70 westbound overnight in north St. Louis city and north county. The first crash was deadly. The second involved a St. Louis city police unit.
The situation involving the police officer unfolded about 3:45 a.m. Police first told FOX 2 earlier Wednesday morning that a city officer was driving a marked police unit when the vehicle was rear-ended by another driver, causing the officer to lose control and hit the center median. Now St. Louis police officials say there was some initial miscommunication, and they have released new information.
The police now tell us that the crash only involved a police unit and no other vehicle. Police now say that the officer lost control of his vehicle and hit the center median after striking some large debris on the highway. We’re told the officer’s injuries are minor but that he was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Several hours earlier, there was another crash on 70 westbound, about six miles west of where the officer-involved crash happened. That wreck left one person dead and two others hurt. It involved two vehicles and happened on 70 West near Jennings Station Road in north county.
70 West in that area was shut down for hours while the Missouri Highway Patrol investigated the crash. The Patrol says a Ford Crown Victoria lost control and hit a Lexus GS. We’re told both vehicles ran off the right side of the highway. The patrol told FOX 2 that the Crown Victoria rolled over and hit a light pole.
The driver of the Crown Victoria, identified as 42-year-old Kineka Clark, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in Clark’s car as well as the driver of the Lexus were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, which appear to be non-life-threatening.
