Barnhart Man Killed in Accident

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Barnhart man was killed early Friday morning in an accident in Jefferson County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 1:45 a.m. on northbound Highway 67 at the Interstate 55 interchange. A car, driven by 40-year-old James M. Nelson, was traveling northbound in lane 1 of Highway 67, and a freightliner, driven by 56-year-old Michael L. Russel Jr., of Arnold, was traveling northbound in lane 2 of Highway 67. Nelson's car crossed the center line and the front of the car struck the left side of the freightliner, then crossed over lane 1 and the left side of Nelson's car struck a concrete barrier.

Nelson and a passenger, 40-year-old Michael W. Coleman, of DeSoto, were taken to Mercy Hospital Jefferson. Nelson later died at the hospital and Coleman was treated for moderate injuries.

Both injured were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.