Scott City man dies in early morning I-55 wreck near Cape Girardeau

A 24-year-old Scott City man died Friday morning in a five-vehicle accident on Interstate 55 at the 90-mile marker near Cape Girardeau.

Justin Schmidt, previously of Carthage, Miss., died in the accident, Scott County Coroner Scott Amick said.

Cape Girardeau police identified Schmidt's address as Mississippi because his driver's license and vehicle plates were from there, Amick said

Schmidt had lived in Scott City for probably less than a year.

According to a police department news release, a green Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Schmidt and a white Jeep Liberty collided in the right lane of southbound traffic.

According to the release, the Jeep pulled to the right side of the roadway and stopped.

The Monte Carlo spun into the barrier cables and came to rest facing north.

Police said the driver, identified as Schmidt, appeared to have left the vehicle and was struck by a Hyundai Santa Fe that then struck the Monte Carlo.

The Hyundai flipped onto its top and slid to the right side of the roadway.

Two other vehicles that were traveling south also struck the Monte Carlo.

Schmidt was declared dead by Amick.

The only other injury reported was the female driver of the Hyundai, who suffered cuts to her hands.

The accident caused the interstate to be shut down for about two hours.

The cause of the crash was still being investigated.

Pertinent address:

Scott City, MO