Just before midnight on Friday, December 12, a routine roadside emergency turned into a heartbreaking loss for two people believed to be a couple along the entrance ramp from South Broadway onto Interstate 55 in St. Louis. What began as a simple call for help after a flat tire took the lives of both individuals and has left the community searching for answers.
Shortly before 11:55 p.m., a woman driving a Kia K4 pulled off onto the I-55 northbound entrance because of a flat tire, police said. She stepped out and called a man she knew for help. He arrived and began working on the tire in the cold night air, their vehicle’s hazard lights blinking faintly against the dark asphalt.
As they tended to the car, a Dodge Ram pickup traveling northbound on Broadway suddenly turned onto the same ramp. The driver later told investigators he saw the disabled Kia but didn’t realize the pair were outside and near the roadway. In a matter of seconds, the truck struck both the woman and the man before crashing into a guardrail.
Emergency crews raced to the scene, but the impact had already claimed the woman’s life at the site. The man was rushed to a hospital with critical injuries, where he later died, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The driver of the Dodge suffered only minor injuries and has been cooperating with police as they continue to piece together exactly how events unfolded.
Witnesses described a heartbreaking scene as first responders worked in the chill of the night, flashing lights illuminating the chaos. Nearby drivers were shaken, some pulling over to offer aid before authorities took control. A reminder echoed from safety officials: stopping on high-speed roadways is inherently dangerous, and even well-meaning efforts to assist can carry immense risks.
Family and friends of the victims are still awaiting formal identification from authorities, who have not released names as of this writing. Community members have taken to social media to express shock and sorrow, sharing stories of loved ones, and urging drivers to be mindful on busy interstates where seconds can mean everything.
This tragedy underscores how swiftly ordinary moments can change. A flat tire, a simple call for help, and the hope of a quick fix all turned into a devastating reminder of roadside danger. Investigators continue to examine the case, and authorities have urged drivers to use caution and, when possible, wait inside their vehicles with emergency lights on until trained roadside assistance arrives.
If you were traveling on I-55 near Broadway that night and saw anything that might help officials in their investigation, you’re encouraged to contact the St. Louis Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Unit. Solidarity and support for the victims’ families have already begun to pour in, as neighbors grapple with the sudden and tragic loss.
The post Late-Night Tragedy on I-55: Couple Killed While Changing Flat Tire on South Broadway Ramp appeared first on Tripplenews.
