FESTUS, Mo. – A Louisiana man has been taken into custody and charged in connection with a fatal multi-vehicle crash on I-55 near Festus that claimed three lives on Sunday, September 28.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) reported that the crash occurred before 3:30 p.m. south of Interstate 50 and involved eight vehicles. Authorities have identified the driver as 45-year-old Richard Holden of Greensburg, Louisiana. MSHP stated that Holden became inattentive to slow-moving traffic, causing his tractor-trailer to strike the rear of a Toyota Camry, triggering a chain-reaction crash.
The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identities of the victims:
- Vanessa Knowles, 63, of Memphis, Tennessee
- Donnie Briggs, 66, of Memphis, Tennessee
- Darla Parris, 53, of Hillsboro, Missouri
Five additional individuals sustained injuries in the crash and were treated for their injuries.
Holden has been booked into the Jefferson County Jail and faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers of inattentive driving and the importance of remaining alert on busy highways.