I-64 Pile-Up: Witnesses Say it was a Horrific Scene
Freezing rain was to blame for the terrible crash on I-64 early this morning. Temperatures hovering around freezing and unexpected precipitation created ideal conditions for the formation of black ice. On Highway 64 this morning between the Vandeventer and Kingshighway exits, the section of road is both raised and sloping. Because it is raised, the ground was colder and more ice was able to form quickly. The slope of the road facilitated car after car to sliding on the ice to collide with the others. More than two dozen vehicles lost control on the ice and crashed into each other, packing tight into a tumble of crushed metal, shattered glass, and terrified people.
The task of rescuing the victims trapped inside the cars was formidable. Not only were so many injured, but extracting them from the wreck was very difficult and time-intensive. There were so many cars packed so tightly together that rescue workers were forced to walk over the mass of cars to triage and locate the injured. Over twenty people, once released, received emergency treatment for their injuries.
Witnesses said that the screams and cries for help were truly horrifying. For the victims, managing to exit their own vehicles was no safer than staying trapped. One unidentified man managed to exit his own vehicle only to be trapped between two others as more and more cars crashed into the pile up. All in all, 31 vehicles (about 25 cars, 3 tractor trailers, and a few fire trucks and ambulances) contributed to the wreckage that trapped some unfortunate motorists in their cars for more than an hour.
Of those injured, few were critically hurt. Four were admitted to Saint Louis University Hospital, where one victim underwent surgery. The most common injury for today’s pile-up victims was broken bones. No deaths have yet been reported, though one injured man, trapped in the very center of the wreckage, is being treated for back, neck, and hand injuries.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash, you have certain rights. Contact the St. Louis car accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC today. Not everyone needs a lawyer after a crash, but an accident attorney at Page Law will consult on your case to help you decide. There is no cost and no obligation. Our compassionate car crash attorneys will aggressively pursue the highest possible settlement for you claim. Call 1-800-CAR-CRASH any time to speak with a live person.
