2000 — Jan 23, Icy-road, Multi-vehicle Collisions & Fire, I-29 near Platte City, MO — 10
— 10 Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, OH. “10 killed in icy pileup.” 1-25-2000, p. 7.
— 10 Lawrence Journal World, KS. “ID’s made on 9th, 10th crash victims.” 1-26-2000, p. 8.
— 10 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. FARS 1975-2010 Fatality Analysis.
— 10 Titusville Herald, PA. “10 Die in Multicar Crash.” 1-24-2000, p. 5.
Narrative Information
Jan 24: “Platte City, Mo. (AP) – A truck jackknifed on an icy stretch of highway north of Kansas City on Sunday, causing a fiery, multicar accident that killed 10 people, authorities said. The accident at 1:50 p.m. involved 19 cars and five trucks, many of which burst into flame, perhaps because one of the trucks leaked hydrochloric acid, said Sgt. Jack McMillan of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“It took rescue workers over eight hours to reach the final two victims, whose car was buried at the bottom of the wreckage. Nine of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. Interstate 29 remained closed in both directions into the night.
“Falling snow had covered already icy roads, making driving dangerous across the region. A truck jackknifed and cars began crashing into it, McMillan said. Some of the wrecked vehicles were melted together from the heat of the fire, which burned for about an hour. The wreckage was still steaming in the cold air at 10 p.m.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “10 Die in Multicar Crash.” 1-24-2000, 5.)
Jan 25: “Platte City, Mo. (AP) – A truck jackknifed on a stretch of icy interstate, setting off a fiery 24-vehicle pileup that killed 10 people. In addition to those killed, 42 people were injured in Sunday’s accident on Interstate 29 north of Kansas City, which involved 19 cars and five trucks, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
“One tractor-trailer rig caught fire in the midst of the pileup. It took over an hour to contain the
blaze, which was fueled by leaking hydrochloric acid, police said….
“The 10th victim, who was killed when his car. flipped off the interstate and into a ditch, was a man from Florida who was visiting St. Joseph for his 16-year-old grandchild’s birthday party, McMillan said. “I’ve been working for the highway patrol for 33 years and this is the worst accident I’ve ever been involved with,” McMillan said.” (Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, OH. “10 killed in icy pileup.” 1-25-2000, p. 7.)
Jan 26: “Platte City, Mo. (AP) — The ninth and 10th victims of Sunday’s deadly crash on Interstate 29 north of Kansas City have been identified, the Missouri Highway Patrol said Tuesday night. A statement from the patrol names the victims as Stephen Tholander, 35, of Platte City, and Joseph Herrera, 46, of St. Joseph. The accident occurred about 25 miles north of downtown Kansas City near Platte City during a snow storm. Eight other victims were identified earlier. They are:
Larry Bass, 55, Springfield;
his wife, Meredith Bass;
their son Mark, 28, and his wife
Casey Snavely Bass, 25, of Springfield and Branson;
Linda Haen, Springfield;
Sara Nicole McGaha, 18, Papillion, Neb.;
Jay C. Wetzel, 19, New Salem, N.D.; and
Jean Roster, 60, Bradenton, Fla.
“Five tractor-trailers and 19 smaller vehicles were involved in the crash.” (Lawrence Journal World, KS. “ID’s made on 9th, 10th crash victims.” 1-26-2000, p. 8.)
Sources
Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH. “10 killed in icy pileup.” 1-25-2000, p. 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/chronicle-telegram/2000-01-25/page-7/
Lawrence Journal World, KS. “ID’s made on 9th, 10th crash victims.” 1-26-2000, p. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/lawrence-journal-world/2000-01-26/page-8/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Partial Data Dump of Crashes Involving 10 or More Fatalities, by Year, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 1975-2009 Final and 2010 ARF. Washington, DC: NHTSA, pdf file provided to Wayne Blanchard, 1-26-2012.
Titusville Herald, PA. “10 Die in Multicar Crash.” 1-24-2000, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald/2000-01-24/page-5/