Emergency personnel responded shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday to a two-vehicle crash on I-255 eastbound just east of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge in Monroe County.

Both vehicles involved caught fire shortly after the collision.

The CFD utilized its drone for an aerial search for one of the vehicle’s occupants. One subject from this vehicle was located about 3 a.m. in St. Louis County.

Other agencies responding to this incident included Illinois State Police, the Mehlville (Mo.) Fire Department and Columbia Police Department.

ISP said a Mercedes-Benz sedan and a Buick Lucerne were both traveling east on I-255 when the Mercedes struck the rear of the Buick, causing both to catch on fire.

Three people were transported with injuries to area hospitals, ISP said.

I-255 eastbound lanes were shut down, with traffic diverted to I-255 westbound. The lanes were reopened to traffic at approximately 3:23 a.m. 

Charged in connection to this crash was Brian J. Tuttle, 50, of Hillsboro, Mo., with DUI (combination of alcohol and drugs), failure to give notice of a crash, failure to give information or offer aid after a crash with involves injury, failure to reduce speed while approaching a disabled vehicle, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, false registration information, improper lane usage, no registration and failure to notify of an address change.

A family member of two occupants in the Buick Lucerne told the Republic-Times that her relatives, ages 78 and 72, were traveling home from River City Casino when the Mercedes struck them from behind at a high rate of speed, causing the Buick to flip multiple times and catch on fire.

One of the injured occupants remains hospitalized due to burns and smoke inhalation, the family member said, while the other occupant has since returned home.