Multi-vehicle Crashes on Rocheport Bridge Shuts Down I-70 in Boone County

A multi-vehicle crash that occurred in the westbound lanes of the Rocheport Bridge around 10:22 a.m., Tuesday morning closed I-70 for several hours.

Then an eastbound crash was reported at 11:26 a.m.

MoDOT rerouted traffic onto US 40, which took drivers through New Franklin and Boonville. Westbound traffic at the bridge was completely blocked. Eastbound traffic was at a standstill, and backed up to about the 111 mile marker inside Cooper County, according to a Tweet from MSHP Troop F.

Both westbound lanes and one of the eastbound lanes were closed as a result of the crashes.

Boone County Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp said there were two semis and three vehicles involved in the westbound crash, according to published reports.

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One semi was loaded with cattle, which were being unloaded and then reloaded onto other trailers.

Fire Fighters extricated a crash victim from the wreckage who was then transported to Columbia by Cooper County Ambulance personnel. One semi was hauling approximately 53 large steers, which was significantly damaged and approximately 12 cattle escaped the wreckage prior to fire arrival. The other steers were contained in the trailer while the escaped steers were rounded up.