A Texas woman and her son were killed by a wrong-way driver just west of St. Louis early Sunday morning. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the traffic crash occurred just before 4 a.m. on Sunday in the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 in Franklin County. Authorities say a wrong-way driver of a 2004 Saab 2.0 was traveling east in the westbound lanes and struck the front left corner of a 2013 Toyota Sienna minivan. Officials say the van was carrying seven passengers. A 31-year-old woman and her two-year-old son were killed in the crash. The wrong-way driver was also killed. Five other passengers in the van were injured and taken to a St. Louis hospital. The injured victims include the 39-year-old father, his four-year-old daughter, a 23-year-old male and a 22-year-old female. Authorities say everyone in the van was wearing a safety belt.
Friends of the family told a local news station that the family was returning to North Texas from Thanksgiving with relatives in Michigan. Police will continue the investigation. It is unclear if the wrong-way driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His identity has not yet been released.
If you have been hurt or have lost a family member by the recklessness or negligent actions of another driver, you could be awarded monetary damages. The aftermath of a tragic accident can be a financial burden. The St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, want to ensure you get the compensation you're entitled. As a client of Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC, you will pay nothing unless we can win your case. Contact our law offices today to schedule a free consultation now.