A major crash involving three semi trucks shut down both directions of Interstate 44 in Phelps County, Missouri, between Rolla and Fort Leonard Wood on Sunday, around 2 p.m. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that a 24-year-old male driver from Dayton, Ohio, was traveling westbound when his semi crossed the center median near mile marker 169 and collided head-on with two eastbound tractor trailers.

According to MSHP Troop I, the crash occurred as the westbound semi “[traveled] off the left side of the roadway through the median into the eastbound lanes striking [Semi 2 and Semi 3].” The collision triggered a fire and brought traffic to a halt in both directions. One of the three semis sustained moderate damage and was able to drive away from the scene, while the other two required full emergency response.

The Doolittle Fire Protection District responded first, assisted by the Saint Robert Fire Department and the Rolla Rural Fire Protection District. Additional agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, MoDOT, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, were dispatched to manage the scene and environmental safety concerns.

Three individuals involved in the crash suffered minor injuries and were transported by EMS to Phelps Health for treatment and evaluation.