JEFFERSON CITY – Two persons were hurt in a three-vehicle traffic crash late Monday afternoon on I-55 in Jefferson County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened on the northbound side of the interstate when a 2020 Ford Ranger being driven by Alexander H. Merrill of Osprey, Florida at what the patrol called “a high rate of speed” attempted to pass a 2012 Western Star 4900 SA semi tractor-trailer rig on the right and struck the trailer. The Ranger then swerved right, then back left, striking the cab of the semi. The Ranger then crossed multiple lanes of traffic before it struck the front right of a 2015 BMW 750 LI driven by 29-year-old Jerry T. Johnson of St. Louis. Both the Ranger and the BMW then struck a concrete wall.
The driver of the Ranger suffered moderate injuries while the driver of the BMW had minor injuries. Both were taken to Mercy Hospital South by the Rock Township Ambulance District. The driver of the semi, 27-year-old William H. Brents of Lakeland, Tennessee was not hurt.
All three vehicles were total losses.
The crash happened about 5:50 p.m. north of Route M.