A dispatcher for the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop-H says a tanker truck left the highway and careened off the bridge down onto a pathway parallel to Route-DD below. The tanker spilled about 48,000 pounds of soybean fatty acids. The substance is described as being a little thicker than soybean oil.
The accident was first reported shortly after 7am in the northbound lanes, but the Missouri State Highway Patrol says debris in the roadway was impeding traffic in both directions at about the the 55 mile marker, near the north junction with U.S. Highway 169. The dispatcher says broken glass slowed traffic in the southbound lanes, and fragments of the guardrail were obstructing northbound traffic.
An ambulance was dispatched to the scene. According to the patrol, the driver sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment. He was reported to be out of the truck and talking to emergency responders when they arrived.
A crash report identifies the driver as James D. Jones, 44, of Covington, Tennessee. That crash report indicates that Mr. Jones fell asleep while driving along I-29. The Kenworth hit the guardrail, crossed into the median and then down a steep embankment before rolling over, according to the crash report.
Because the crash involved the spill of a food product, and occurred near a waterway, two state agencies must be called in to continue the investigation. The Department of Health and Senior Services investigates spills involving food products, while the Department of Natural Resources must sign off on any spill close to a waterway. The crash occurred near Dillon Creek.
The debris on I-29 was cleared, and traffic was moving normally on the interstate by about 9am. Work continued near Route-DD, but that was not having an impact on traffic.