ST. GENEVIEVE COUNTY, MO – An 18-year-old driver was killed after rear-ending a truck in St. Genevieve County yesterday evening, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The accident happened at 6:43 p.m., about 3 miles northeast of Ozora, on southbound I-44, near the 146.4 mile marker.
18-year-old Festus resident McKenna M. Templeton was operating a 2009 Ford Escape when she attempted to change to the left lane and pass a 2006 Freightliner Conventional truck. The front right of her Escape collided with the left rear of the truck’s trailer. The Escape rolled over, then collided with a guard rail.
Templeton, who was reportedly not wearing her seatbelt, was ejected during the crash, and pronounced dead at the scene at 7:25 p.m.
The driver of the truck, 55-year-old Perryville man Lewis A. Riddick III, was not reported as injured.
The Ford was totaled and the truck sustained minor damage in the crash.
This article is one in a series presented by OnderLaw to inform our neighbors about car accidents and traffic news across our city. It should not be interpreted as legal advice. However, if you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, we would like to discuss your case in detail. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, your lost income, and other expenses. More importantly, the only way to fight for those injured by a commercial driver or vehicle or fix the root cause of many accidents is to enlist the help of an experienced attorney that has the possibility to effect change and can prevent this from happening to another family. Contact us today to speak to one of our compassionate St. Louis truck accident attorneys.