Accident ties up Missouri River bridge

Jefferson City Police and Fire Departments responded to a three-vehicle collision on the northbound Missouri River bridge Monday morning. Photo by Julie Smith.

By News Tribune

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

A three-vehicle accident on the northbound Missouri River Bridge tied up traffic for about an hour Monday morning.

According to Jefferson City Police Department reports, a John Deere tractor, driven by Kent Schmidt, 56, Russellville, and a Chevy Tahoe, driven by Jenna Surface, 38, Jefferson City, were both going north in the right lane of the bridge just after 10 a.m.

Surface was behind Schmidt and they were traveling at about 20 mph. A tractor-trailer truck, driven by Benjamin Schroyer, 68, Sunrise Beach, was in the middle lane of the bridge changing into the right lane.

Police reported he recognized Surface and Schmidt were going slow, but was unable to slow down in time and struck the Surface vehicle in the rear.

The impact caused Surface to hit Schmidt's tractor in the rear. Surface was the only one hurt, suffering moderate injuries.

All the drivers were wearing their seat belts.

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Fritz 1 year, 11 months ago

On Tuesday morning, June 7,2011, at 9 a.m., I entered the northbound Missouri River bridge from Main St in Jefferson City. I was getting up to speed when I saw an 18-wheeler coming up on my rear at a high rate of speed. I was driving a V8 pickup, so I put my foot in it to avoid being rear-ended. About the North end of the bridge we were side by side. I did not make a note of the name on the truck assuming that the trucker would continue north on 54/63 and I intended to exit right into North JC. Just before the exit, this trucker with faulty depth perception (since I can't say what I really want to) cuts me off and exits right. At the top of the exit, he turns right and barely slows down for the Stop sign. I followed the truck to the entrance of the sand plant east of the bridge.

At the entrance, I pulled off on the right shoulder, debating whether to go in the plant and complain. About that time, another truck, identical to the first, with OZARK TRANSPORTATION on the door, blows past me and goes into the plant.

The June 7 Section B of the News Tribune has a picture of the commodity hauler that rear ended the SUV that hit the tractor on the bridge at about the same place that I was cut off. I wonder if that truck has OZARK TRANSPORTATION on the door?

Before I retired, I spent years traveling the Midwest. If I saw a PRIME INC truck, I always gave them plenty of room, because they were always speeding, tailgating, or cutting in on traffic.

Is OZARK TRANSPORTATION hiring the rejects from PRIME INC ?

JMO 1 year, 11 months ago

KRCG's website said it was operated by Scott's Concrete from Camdenton.

JCLifer 1 year, 11 months ago

These guys better hope they kill me if they rear-end me like that. I will hop out and unlease a 55 gallon drum of pain and heartache on a driver who rear ends me.

yonomo 1 year, 11 months ago

Tough talk on an internet forum. Classic.

usmc00 1 year, 11 months ago

I think it was equaly the tractors fault. Why can they run down the highway at 20 miles and hour and not a lawn tractor or atv. I think they need to be trailered like anything else that can not run the speed limit.

tonto 1 year, 11 months ago

I can think of a number of things wrong with your comment. One - state law. Farm equipment is allowed on all roads except interstates. Two - the truck was changing lanes. Continuing the lane change when you are too fast and going too fast is even worse. Three - Not realizing how fast you are going is a bad thing. The truck line's insurance company is going tro be very unhappy. Four -unning the full legal speed limit is not mandatory. It is not a good idea except on a clear open straight road.

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