Fatal Missouri I-70 crash leads to charges for tractor-trailer driver

The driver of a tractor-trailer is facing multiple charges related to a Monday crash on Interstate 70 that led to the deaths of a woman from Tennessee and another from Colorado.

Walter J. Montejo, of South Gate, California, is charged with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, one count of second-degree assault and one count of driving with a revoked or suspended license (first offense).

He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with moderate injuries from the crash, but was in custody at the Boone County Jail as of Thursday morning. He is being held without bond. A court hearing was not yet scheduled as of Thursday morning.

Montejo was westbound on I-70 in the passing lane in the area of the Business Loop 70 exit when he allegedly failed to maintain his lane, traveling into the driving lane where the tractor-trailer collided with a BMW Z3, which spun out of control and off the right side of the road. The driver of the BMW and any possible injuries suffered were unidentified.

"After the initial collision, Montejo's vehicle made a quick movement to the left, striking the center concrete barrier separating east and westbound lanes," court documents stated per witness statements to police.

The tractor-trailer went over the barrier and into eastbound lanes, striking a Toyota Highlander, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control. Driver and injury information was not noted in court documents. A Dodge Ram 1500 truck in the eastbound lanes also was hit causing it to become airborne and overturn. The unidentified driver of that vehicle suffered serious injuries. Then the tractor-trailer hit a Ford Explorer, heavily damaging the vehicle, but the condition of the driver is unknown.

After all this, the tractor-trailer then had a head-on crash with a U-Haul rental truck driven by Cindy Helms, 54, of Rockwood, Tennessee. She was taken to a local hospital but died at the hospital, court documents and Columbia police reported. Melvina M. Colin, 84, of Broomfield, Colorado, a passenger in the U-Haul died at the scene. Next of kin were notified.

Montejo's license suspension was noted as due to "an active administrative alcohol suspension."

The North Carolina-based personal injury Whitley Law Firm notes that between 2013 and 2022 fatal truck accidents in Missouri has risen roughly 77%. The firm looked at the number of fatal truck accidents per state and then ranked them based on which states had the greatest increases. Missouri ranks 10th, while Alaska had the greatest increases over the 10-year-period, 166%.

"The state's diverse terrain, ranging from flat plains to the Ozark Mountains, can also present challenges for truck drivers, especially during inclement weather," the firm notes as possible factors for some of the crashes in Missouri.

The firm suggests targeted interventions are needed that go "beyond existing restrictions like hours-of-service regulations and vehicle weight limits," a firm spokesperson said. “It's a complex issue where infrastructure investment, driver training, and stricter regulations must work in tandem to reverse this concerning trend."

Data was compiled by the firm by accessing the U.S. Department of Transportation's fatality and injury reporting system , which is part of the department's crash data acquisition network.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Fatal Missouri I-70 crash leads to charges for tractor-trailer driver