Six Injured In Two Separate But Related Accidents On I-44

A total of six people were injured in two separate accidents that happened only a few minutes apart on eastbound Interstate-44 at the 144-mile marker in Laclede County.

The highway patrol says the first happened when a tractor-trailer was slowing for heavy rain and was hit from behind.

Two people from Plato (play-toh0, including a 6-year-old, suffered minor injuries in that accident.

The second accident happened when one of the vehicles struck an unoccupied vehicle from the first accident with two more vehicles becoming involved.

Four people in the first car in the second accident suffered minor-to-moderate injuries.

All six injured in the two accidents were treated at nearby facilities.