Two Mid-Missouri teens were killed Tuesday when their westbound car crossed the median on U.S. 54 in southern Callaway County and collided with an eastbound tractor-trailer.
The Highway Patrol identified the victims as Caleb H. McClain, 16, Jefferson City - who was driving the 2006 Toyota Corolla - and Karlie D. Jones, 15, Holts Summit.
The truck driver, Francis D. Evers, 52, Jefferson City, was treated and released Tuesday afternoon from Capital Region Medical Center.
The patrol said the accident happened at noon, on the "Mel Ray" curve just north of the South Summit Drive interchange between Jefferson City and Holts Summit.
Traffic was re-routed to Summit Drive while the highway was closed.
The accident closed both lanes of eastbound 54 for about three hours, with one lane staying closed for another 90 minutes.
Both lanes were re-opened to traffic about 4:30 p.m., but traffic remained congested through the evening rush period.
The Holts Summit Fire Protection District was called to the accident, along with Jefferson City's fire department, Callaway Ambulance, the Callaway County sheriff's department, MoDOT and the patrol.
The fire district reported that the first units on the scene identified natural gas coming from the truck, and were able to activate the trailer's emergency shut off.
Earlier reporting, posted at 3:55 p.m.
One lane of eastbound U.S. 54 was reopened this afternoon, after both eastbound lanes had been closed for several hours by a two-vehicle accident.
The state Transportation department said one lane likely would remain closed through the evening rush period.
The Highway Patrol has not yet released any details of the accident, although troopers said two people were killed after a tractor-trailer hit a car.
The accident happened on the curve in southern Callaway County, just north of the Summit Drive interchange between Jefferson City and Holts Summit.
Traffic was re-routed to Summit Drive when the highway was closed.
Earlier reporting, posted at 1:10 p.m.
All lanes of eastbound U.S. 54 near Summit Drive in Holts Summit are closed due to a two-vehicle crash that occurred mid-day Tuesday, according to Sally Oxenhandler of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
A tractor-trailer struck a passenger vehicle in the eastbound lanes, according to a news release from the Holts Summit Fire Protection District. Upon arrival on the scene, units identified natural gas emanating from the tractor-trailer's propulsion system and were able to activate the trailer's emergency shut-off.
Crews from the Holts Summit Fire Protection District, along with Jefferson City Fire Deparatment, Callaway Ambulance, Callaway County Sheriff's Department, MoDOT and the Missouri Highway Patrol, responded to the accident.
Traffic is being detoured onto South Summit Drive. Estimated closure time is about four hours from the early afternoon closure, meaning the eastbound lanes of U.S. 54 could be open by 5 p.m. Tuesday.