Nine injured after one car hits the back of another on I-44, causing both to overturn
Nine people including three children were injured in a collision along Interstate 44 that caused both vehicles to overturn late Sunday.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said a Dodge Journey — with at least eight people inside — was struck from behind by a Kia Soul driven by James Hake, 62, of Springfield.
Hake, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered serious injuries. Hake was arrested and transported by helicopter to Mercy Springfield.
The wreck occurred at 10:15 p.m. Sunday near Sarcoxie, which is in Jasper County, as both vehicles were traveling west.
The Kia Soul traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a mobile electronic warning device, traveled down an embankment and overturned.
The Dodge Journey overturned, traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a concrete drain, overturned again, and stopped on the median cable barrier.
Fredy Guzman, 30, of Bentonville, Arkansas, was the driver of the Dodge Journey.
He and the seven passengers, all from Bentonville, were wearing their seatbelts and were transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Joplin.
The driver and the passengers all suffered minor injuries.
The passengers include Elsa Hildago De Guzman, 51; Manuel Guzman, 46; Aldo Calderon Aguilar, 33; Tania Guzman Hildago, 27; and three children. The children include a 7-year-old boy and two girls, ages 2 and 10.
Hake was arrested on suspicion of DWI, not having car insurance, and not wearing a seatbelt. He was released to go to the hospital.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SGF driver arrested in I-44 wreck injuring six adults, three kids
