Death of Officer and Serious Injury of 4 Pedestrians Highlight Danger of Secondary Interstate Crashes in MO

By The Cagle Law Firm | September 27, 2024 | Car Accidents, Featured, Inattentiveness

The recent death of local police officer during a roadside collision has shocked the community.  The officer was attempting to aid a motorist after a motor vehicle collision on Interstate 70, when he was struck by a secondary vehicle.  Law enforcement is usually a welcomed sight for those involved in a a motor vehicle collision and officers routinely work multiple crashes per day.  As the officer’s family and community grapple with the loss, it bears mentioning that first responders and road assistance professionals face this danger daily.

A devastating Interstate 44 crash seriously injured four pedestrians on Interstate 44 on Thursday afternoon, September 26th. According to the MO State Highway patrol’s initial report, pedestrians were in the process of changing a tire on the shoulder of the I-44 when an approaching vehicle lost control, traveled off the right striking another vehicle resulting in the pedestrians being pinned against a third vehicle.  The incident yesterday highlights again how dangerous our interstates are for motorists who break down on the roadway as well as emergency personnel. The specifics of yesterday’s crash is still under investigation by the MSHP.

Every year we lose first responders, road assistance workers and pedestrians who are injured or killed in secondary crashes while they were assisting other motorists or climbing from their vehicles. This bad outcome is often about  motorists failing to use caution, move over, and reduce their speed while passing a crash scene.   As individual drivers, we can take action to improve this danger by being attentive, avoiding driving distracted and yielding to emergency vehicles.  As well, a disruption in traffic is usually the first indicator of a crash, so slowing your speed should be your first reaction to improve your reaction time.

Inattentive and distracted driving are the leading causes of these secondary crashes that injure first responders–law enforcement, fire department, paramedics and roadside assistance crews.   While these incidents are still being investigated, there has been impaired driving charges in the fatality.  Without a doubt, impaired driving causes thousands of needless fatalities each year. However,  these secondary crashes are often caused by motorists failing to pay attention, reducing speed and safely changing into outside lanes. Every situation is unique to the people involved, but inattentiveness continues to be an overriding theme in these needless tragedies.

The fact remains that first responders and pedestrians exiting their vehicles on interstates after a crash are in great peril even when all the motorists are sober.  

Emergency personnel assume a degree of risk;  however, routine motor vehicle crashes should not be life and death situations daily.  These critical personnel are seriously injured or killed by secondary vehicle drivers passing the crash site and engaging in inattentive driving, distracted driving, speeding or simply failing to reduce speed.   Stay alert and slow down when you see indications of disruption.  It can be difficult as you travel at high rates of speed on an interstate when vehicles veer and crash in close proximity, hence the frequency of pile up crashes.  When we are on busy roadways, it pays for all of us to use utmost caution and attentiveness.

Shoulder of the Interstate is the Most Dangerous Places to Be

Many would suspect that the shoulder of an interstate is dangerous. Most would be absolutely stunned to the number of crashes that involve interstate motorists hitting cars or pedestrians on the shoulder.   Every year, we lose an emergency responder or roadside assistance responder who is killed while attempting to render aide after a vehicle crash.   Officers often park their vehicles in a defensive position in an attempt to protect the stranded vehicle or aftermath of a crash from other vehicles.  Their goal is to sacrifice their vehicle and build buffers from oncoming vehicles.  In  emergency situations, first responders to not always have time to line up several vehicles as barriers without sacrificing life-saving time.  Saving lives is the critical mission of first responders, but moving the vehicles and injured is equally important to reduce the chances of secondary crashes. The more defensive and protective measures they have to take can slow the emergency response.

It is such a problem of length and severity that all 50 states and D.C. have “move over laws” requiring drivers to move over and slow down.   Illinois passed “Scott’s Law”  after a first responder, Scott Gillen was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver in a similar secondary crash in 2000.  These move over laws mandate that when approaching any police or other emergency vehicle stopped along the roadway you must: change lanes if possible, always reduce speed, reduce speed greatly if unable to change lanes and proceed with increased caution.  Much of the publication of passing this law was for safety awareness and prevention of secondary crashes.  Any time motorists can be educated with specific instructions and a serious injury or death is prevented, it is a win.  Most of these law involve increased fines or possible imprisonment.

Move Over laws are more about mutual survival on the roadway by promoting safety and consideration rather than fines.

Safety Advice About Interstate Shoulders

Law enforcement, medical responders and roadside assist personnel HAVE to be on a crash scene.  After representing those injured in secondary crashes on interstates,  we repeatedly recommend  that you never pull to the shoulder unless your vehicle simply will not move forward.  It may sound extreme to be so unwilling to pull over regardless of a passenger retching, spilling liquids or baby’s crying, but it is profoundly not extreme.  Based upon the experiences of several of our clients struck in secondary collisions on the interstate, we are all believers in never pulling to the shoulder.

In some scenarios, your vehicle may literally be stranded on the shoulder of the interstate.  Yesterday’s serious injuries to four pedestrians attempting to change a tire is a horrifying reminder of how dangerous interstate shoulders are.  Should you find yourself in that situation, it is not dramatic in the least to call 911.  Officers know how dangerous it is to be on the shoulder of the interstate and they will respond to assist in providing safety. Many folks are reluctant to involve law enforcement on the interstate if there is not an actual crash, but please do not hesitate to involve authorities.

Road Safety Impacts Us All

If  you think the death of the local officer and serious injuries of four St. Louis young men are random and rare, you are mistaken.  Every month there are serious injuries and fatalities as a result of secondary collisions on the interstates in Missouri.  The loss of life is devastating and serious injuries are often life-changing.    The increased or decreased safety on our roadways have a serious impact on all of us.  When roadways become more unsafe, it may slow emergency response and certainly discourages Good Samaritan actions.  No one ever plans to be in a motor vehicle crash.  If you are in a crash, you will want law enforcement and medical responders to be able to safely assist you

Looking out for crashes and roadside occurrences cost us very little as motorists, usually just a little time and patience

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, all us toll free 1.800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681

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