Investigators from the Missouri State Highway Patrol have shared their findings on the tragic wrong-way crash that occurred on Interstate 44 in Eureka, Missouri. The incident took place just before 6 p.m. near Highway 109.
The report indicates that a 2013 Ford F-150 was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes, leading to the devastating collision. The 18-year-old driver of a 2017 Hyundai Sonata attempted to avoid the oncoming pickup truck by swerving but ended up crashing into the concrete median divider. Unfortunately, the driver of the F-150 also swerved in the same direction, resulting in a collision with the Sonata before moving on.
Subsequently, the F-150 entered the second lane of westbound traffic and collided with a 2018 Peterbilt 579 tractor-trailer traveling in the opposite direction. Following the impact with the semi-truck, the F-150 veered back into the first lane and struck a 2019 Lincoln Navigator that was trailing behind the Sonata.
The tractor-trailer veered off the right side of the interstate, hitting a guardrail and overturning in the process. Immediate responders from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Eureka police and fire departments, and the St. Louis County Police Department quickly arrived at the scene to provide assistance.
Tragically, the driver of the F-150, identified as 62-year-old Lane L. Rakow from Eureka, was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. The pickup truck sustained significant damage, and it remains uncertain whether Rakow was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
On the other hand, the 47-year-old driver of the Peterbilt tractor-trailer suffered moderate injuries but was wearing a seatbelt, which likely contributed to his survival. He was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention, and fortunately, no other injuries were reported in connection with the crash.
As a result of the collision and subsequent investigation, the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 were closed for several hours to facilitate the work of the investigators and clear the wreckage from the roadway.
While the report sheds light on the sequence of events that led to this tragic incident, it does not provide any insight into why Lane L. Rakow was traveling in the wrong direction on the highway. The circumstances surrounding his actions remain unclear at this time, leaving many questions unanswered for the authorities and the community affected by this heartbreaking event.
