I-55 back open after explosion, fire at 132.8 mile marker

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) – Interstate 55 was shutdown at the Brewer off-ramp, 135 mile-marker southbound Tuesday afternoon after an explosion.

Perry County 911 got a call about an explosion and fire on Interstate 55, southbound at the 132.8 mile marker.

The explosion involved two semi trucks on Tuesday, August 8 at 2:52 p.m., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. Emergency crews and mutual aid were called to the scene.

A 2012 Freightline Cascadia driven by Lindley E. Callowe, 60, of Big Shady, Texas was parked on the west shoulder of southbound I-55 at the 132 mile marker.

A 2001 Freightline FLD120 driven by Michael L. Walters, 47, of Lebanaon, Mo. was traveling south on I-55 when it traveled off the right side of the road and the front end struck the rear of the trailer of Callowe’s vehicle. Then, Walters’ vehicle travled back into the road where it caught fire and burned.