Car in deadly Missouri pursuit and crash tied to Colorado Springs homicide case
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Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed one person died after a crash on eastbound Interstate 70 in Columbia Thursday morning.
Boone County Sheriff’s spokesperson Brian Leer told ABC 17 News the driver was stopped near I-70 and St. Charles Road by a deputy for having stolen license plates. During the traffic stop the woman drove off resulting in a chase.
Leer said the car in the chase was tied to a homicide in Colorado Springs. While the car may have ties to a homicide, the Colorado Springs Police Department told KRDO13 that they don’t believe the woman driving was tied to the homicide. Leer stated over the phone that they do not believe the woman is a local to Missouri.
The chase continued until the driver got off at the Midway exit, but turned back towards Columbia using the ramp onto I-70. Leer said the driver turned while on the ramp and went into the grass and a ditch before she was hit by an oncoming semi-truck.
The car rolled and she was thrown from it, according to Leer. She was taken to a local hospital, where she died.
Troopers said the crash involved a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck.
An ABC 17 News reporter saw one car with visible damage to its front and driver’s side while it was being towed away.
A Boone County Sheriff’s SUV was also seen at the crash site with damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle. Leer confirmed to ABC 17 News that the damage was from the pursuit, but when the car hit another Sheriff’s vehicle, no deputies were hurt.
A Boone County Joint Communication alert was sent out at 9:38 a.m. about a crash on I-70 that shut down both eastbound lanes. A second alert was sent out before 10:30 a.m., reporting all lanes are back open.
An ambulance, along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boone County Sheriff and Boone County Fire Protection District, was at the scene.
The Missouri Department of Transportation Travelers map showed traffic backed up for several miles around 10 a.m.