UPDATE, 8:30 p.m. | The Missouri State Highway Patrol released details from Thursday afternoon's injury crashes on Interstate 70 near Odessa, Missouri.
The initial crash, involving three tractor-trailers, occurred around 1:25 p.m. as a 2024 Peterbilt tractor-trailer hit the rear of a 2015 Mack tractor-trailer that was stopped in traffic. The Mack semi then hit the tow unit of a 2005 Kenworth tractor-trailer as the Mack was overturning, according to a crash report from MSHP.
MSHP reports the 50-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man, who was driving the Mack semi, was taken by LifeFlight to Research Medical Center for serious injuries.
No injuries were listed for the Kenworth driver, 25, of Nokomis, Illinois, and the Peterbilt driver, 44, of Lake Lotawana, Missouri.
The secondary crash happened around 2:28 p.m. as traffic slowed for the original crash.
A Hyundai Tuscon, driven by a 19-year-old woman from Louisburg, Kansas, was passing a 2006 Kenworth W900 semi and struck the rear of the vehicle, per a MSHP crash report.
The Hyundai then went off the roadway into a ditch.
The 19-year-old was transported to Research Medical Center for serious injuries. The Clinton, Missouri, man, 35, driving the Kenworth was not injured, according to MSHP.
UPDATE, 5 p.m. | All lanes of westbound Interstate 70 are back open following Thursday afternoon's crash.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says one person was transported from the crash to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.
During the initial crash, a second crash occurred in the backup of traffic. Troopers say one person from that crash was hospitalized.
Both crashes are cleared and WB I-70 is back open. One driver from the crash at the 35.8 MM and one driver from the crash at the 39 MM were transported with injuries. More information will be available when the online reports are published.
— MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) May 14, 2026
EARLIER REPORT | An injury crash involving three semis and one passenger car has closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Odessa, Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported the crash around 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Milemarker 37.2.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson said westbound traffic is being diverted off I-70 onto Missouri Highway 131.
The extent of the injuries to those involved wasn’t immediately known.
🚨Traffic Crash/Roadway Blocked🚨
— MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) May 14, 2026
Troopers are currently on scene of an injury crash on WB I-70 near the 35.8 MM. WB lanes are completely blocked. All WB traffic will be diverted onto MO-131. Avoid the area. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/DKOvrFvAEP
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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