A fiery crash involving two tractor-trailers shut down southbound traffic for about four hours Thursday morning on Interstate 55 at the 15.8-mile marker in Pemiscot County.
Missouri State Troopers say the crash happened around 12:30 that morning at mile marker 15 when two tractor-trailers collided. The report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol states that the 2002 Freightliner driven by Ramiz Northland, 46, of Raymond, Iowa, crossed over the center line, striking the tractor-trailer being driven by Zdravko Trifonov, 58, of Chicago, causing it to overturn and catch on fire.
Troopers shut down the southbound lanes of I-55 as emergency crews worked the wreck. Because of cleanup, the lanes were not reopened until 4:30 that morning.
The drivers of both trucks were hurt, but according to the Missouri Highway Patrol, their injuries were not life-threatening. Northland was airlifted to The Regional Medical Center in Memphis with moderate injuries. Trifonov was taken by ambulance to Pemiscot Memorial Hospital.