There was another traffic injury accident at the westbound I-44 Zipper Merge in the St. James area. According to the highway patrol, a 3-vehicle chain-reaction accident occurred at 11:33 Wednesday morning at the westbound 195-mile marker. A 2010 Buick Lucerne, driven by 79-year-old Harry H. Coplin of Rolla, struck the rear of a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 64-year-old John M. Stevenson of St. Charles, which in turn, struck the rear of a 2017 Ford Fiesta, driven by 25-year-old Lindsey M. Pennington of Rolla. Harry Coplin received moderate injuries and was taken by St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment.

Chalk up more injuries from another Zipper Merge traffic accident on eastbound Interstate 44 at the 165.1-mile marker east of St. Robert. The highway patrol reports that at 5:28 Wednesday evening, a 2012 Honda Cross, driven by 23-year-old Josie S. Carter of Vinita, Oklahoma, struck the rear of a 2015 Freightliner, driven by 24year-old Brandon M. Blasingame of Rolla that was stopped in traffic due to construction. Blasingame was not injured in the collision. However, a passenger in the Honda Cross–49-year-old Tamara L. Atkins–received serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle–Josie Carter received moderate injuries and a one-year-old female infant also received moderate injuries. Atkins and the infant were flown to University Hospital in Columbia to receive treatment. Carter was taken by Pulaski County Ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla.