Scott City man killed in I-44 crash

ROLLA, Mo. -- A Scott City, Mo., man was killed and seven others injured in a seven-car accident on Interstate 44 Sunday afternoon.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:17 p.m., when a tractor trailer truck, driven by Gurjit Singh, 31, of Fresno, Calif., crossed the median and began to overturn, striking two vehicles, one driven by Alex W. James, 29, of Sullivan, Mo., and the other driven by Sarah C. Turner, 66, of Tulsa, Okla.

A vehicle driven by Eric Lee Uhrhan, 21, of Scott City, attempted to avoid the collision with the tractor trailer by changing lanes and struck a vehicle driven by Glen Paasch, 73, of Rosebud, Mo.

Paasch was ejected from the vehicle as Uhrhan's came to a stop on the shoulder. The towed unit of the tractor trailer then struck Uhrhan's truck, causing it to overturn.

A sixth vehicle was struck by debris from the overturning tractor trailer and a seventh vehicle avoided a collision but struck an embankment.

Uhrhan was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:36 p.m. by Phelps County Coroner Andy Davis. Zachary Carlyle, 21, and Ryan Fortner, 22, both of Scott City and passengers in Uhrhan's vehicle were transported by personal vehicle and were treated for minor injuries.

Paasch received serious injuries and was airlifted to the University of Missouri - Columbia Hospital. Singh received minor injuries and was transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

James was taken by personal vehicle and treated for minor injuries.

Turner and a passenger in her vehicle, Justine L. Thompson, 68, of Shawnee, Okla., were transported by ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, Mo. Thompson was treated for minor injuries while Turner was treated for her moderate injuries.