Two separate crashes on Interstate 44 at a construction zone near Sarcoxie have sent 6 people to area hospitals and blocked traffic for hours on Wednesday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 5.
The Oct. 3 crash happened two miles east of Sarcoxie and involved four vehicles. Four people were transported to Joplin hospitals with moderate or minor injuries, according to the Patrol.
The Oct. 5 crash involved two tractor trailers and happened one mile east of Sarcoxie. Both drivers were taken to Mercy Hospital Joplin with moderate or minor injuries, according to the Patrol.
Both crashes happened in areas where the Missouri Department of Transportation is working to resurface the interstate.
According to the MoDOT Traveler’s Information map at https://traveler.modot.org/map/ the resurfacing project is expected to last until Nov. 21.
“Pavement Reconstruction Single Lane Traffic – Congestion Likely Seek Alternate Route to Avoid Delay Eastbound I-44 — Exit 11 to I-49 south to U.S. Rte 60 east to Springfield or Exit 18 at Fidelity to MO Rte 59 south to Rte 60 east to Springfield,” the notice on the Traveler’s Map says.
Oct. 3 crash
Four vehicles were involved in Oct. 3 crash. The injured were in two of them — the driver of the first vehicle involved and the driver and two passengers in the second vehicle.
The Patrol said driver Keenan Page, 31, Joplin, and driver Yessenio Bonilla, 36 and her passengers Cecilio Canlia, 31 and David Rodriguez-Bonilla, 1, all of Aurora, were taken to hospitals after this crash that happened at 5:22 p.m.
The drivers of what the Patrol called vehicles three and four, Shelly K. Dreckshage, 50, Portage Des Sioux, Mo., and Ruthann C. Vanvolkenberg, 45, Joplin, were not hurt.
According to the Patrol, Page was traveling east when he failed to observe traffic stopped in the road, struck Bonilla’s vehicle from behind, then traveled off the left side of the road and overturned.
The impact pushed Bonilla’s vehicle into Dreckshage’s vehicle, which pushed that vehcle into Vanvolkenberg’s vehicle.
Oct. 5 crash
Friday’s crash involved two tractor trailers, again traveling east on the Interstate, and happened at 4:22 p.m one mile east of Sarcoxie.
Drivers Horia F. Tomescu, 48, Royalton, Ohio, and Rosalinda F. Rodriguez, 59, El Paso, Texas, were both taken to Mercy Joplin Hospital after the crash.
The Patrol reported that Tomescu’s truck was overtaking Rodriguez’ truck when it attempted to stop, but hit Rodriguez’ trailer.
Tomescu’s truck then hit a bridge and came to a stop in the road.
Rodriguez truck’ hit a bridge embankment and rolled into a creek.
Traffic traveling east was completely shut down for about an hour before one lane was reopened. Traffic traveling west also had to be shut down for a short time while the crash was cleared up.
