A simple water main break turned deadly early this morning. According to the St. Louis Fire Department, a young man in his 20’s was driving on Riverview Boulevard when his vehicle hit an ice patch, spun out of control and wrapped around a tree. Although the young man was rushed to an area hospital at 8:45 a.m. this morning, he died just over an hour later from fatal injuries suffered as a result of this Missouri car accident.
According to KSDK, a water main broke earlier this morning, around 5:50 a.m., near the intersection of Riverview and Hall Street. This break permitted water to travel through a gap in the roadway’s median and freeze on the roadway. This ice patch was located about 20-30 feet from the deadly car crash.
This St. Louis area automobile accident is currently being investigated. It has not yet been determined if the ice present on the roadway was caused by the water main break but it appears it was. Further, speed may have been a factor in this car crash. As a result of the Missouri car accident, Riverview was closed to allow maintenance crews to salt the roads and also permit the police to investigate the accident.
I have recently spoken about several St. Louis County area traffic collisions. The recent rash of ice and snow have made travel difficult and dangerous. It is certainly unfortunate to learn that this car crash may have occured as a result of a faulty water line which may or may not have been preventable.
Deadly Crash Near Water Main Break, www.ksdk.com, February 9, 2011.