Kirkwood Woman Killed in I-44 Crash

A Kirkwood woman was killed in a crash that occurred in St. Louis County Tuesday morning.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that two vehicles were parked on the shoulder of westbound I-44, east of Highway 109 at 10:42 a.m., due to a motor vehicle collision that had just occurred.

Two women who had stopped to check on the drivers, were standing outside of their 2016 Jeep Wrangler, when they were struck by a 2005 International tractor trailer, driven by 60-year-old Tony Pope of Athens, Alabama, which struck the rear of a 2016 Honda CRV, driven by 68-year-old Jody J. Ambert of Eureka, Mo. The impact caused the International to jackknife and travel off the right side of the roadway and strike the Jeep Wrangler and both pedestrians, identified as 30-year-old Heather N. Baker of Kirkwood, and 28-year-old Jessie M. Christopher of Fenton.

Christopher suffered moderate injuries, and was transported Mercy Hospital St. Louis by the Eureka Fire Protection District.

Baker was pronounced dead at the scene by Eureka Fire Protection District personnel at 10:53 a.m. The body was taken to the St. Louis County Medical Examiners Office by Lonning Mortuary.

Pope suffered serious injuries, and was transported Mercy Hospital St. Louis by the Eureka Fire Protection District.

The Freightliner and the Honda had moderate damage, while the Jeep and International tractor trailer were totaled.

Eureka Fire District assisted the 12 Troopers on scene.

According to KMOV, the two females were Good Samaritans who had stopped to help after seeing a tractor trailer and a pickup truck on the side of the highway after those two vehicles had crashed.