LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. — Authorities are responding to a series of crashes along eastbound Interstate 44 near Mount Vernon. This comes after an initial fatal wreck involving a semi-truck fire Sunday afternoon West of Mount Vernon.
Lawrence County Sheriff Brad Delay says deputies have worked six crashes in the area. The first involved a single semi-truck that caught fire, leaving one person dead and another critically injured.
Delay said another wreck at the 46 mile marker eastbound involved two semi-trucks and required extrication, while the remaining four crashes involved passenger vehicles, pictured below.
According to Delay, all of the crashes occurred on the eastbound side of the interstate. He said some may have been caused by slowed traffic and drivers looking toward the initial crash scene as traffic was diverted.
The crashes prompted a large emergency response, with four fire departments providing mutual aid…