Police say an argument between a truck driver and a female passenger led to a fatal five vehicle pileup earlier this week.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening, around 9:30 p.m., on Route 50 east in O’Fallon, Illinois.
According to a statement from the O’Fallon Police Department, “several witnesses reported a a semi-truck traveling at a high rate of speed” on Highway 50. Some witnesses also mentioned an apparent “domestic disturbance,” and that a female passenger jumped from the moving rig.
Before officers arrived to the scene, they received another call of a chain reaction crash involving the semi truck.
When officers arrived they found an accident scene involving five vehicles, taking up three lanes. Four passenger vehicles and the semi truck were involved in the crash. The driver of one passenger vehicle, a 67-year-old female driver was killed as a result.
Four other people including the truck driver and his female passenger, who was found nearby, were transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The truck driver and his passenger were both arrested. Police say an argument between the two caused the chain reaction crash. Their names have not been released.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage and continuing their investigation. Charges are expected, but have not yet been filed.
Update:
The driver of the truck was identified as 47-year-old Orlando V. Luke.
Luke was charged with one count of reckless homicide. He is currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail, with bail set at $250,000. If convicted, he faces between two to five years in prison.