The driver of a pickup who was killed after crashing into the back of a firetruck on Interstate 70 early today apparently struck the firetruck after swerving to avoid a police car, officials say.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
The Missouri Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash, identified the driver who died as Chad E. Zaiz, 30, of O’Fallon, Mo.
The firetruck and a police car were both on the interstate, near the Mid Rivers Mall Drive exit, to help with a medical emergency that happened moments earlier on westbound I-70. Firefighters were waiting for an ambulance to drive away after that earlier medical emergency when Zaiz’s 2002 Ford F-150 slammed into the back of the firetruck at 12:18 a.m. Thursday.
Three lanes of westbound I-70 were closed for about five hours as police investigated the crash between the Mid Rivers Mall exit and the Spencer Road overpass. All lanes were reopened by 5 a.m. Thursday.
The firetruck was operated by a crew from Central County Fire and Rescue. A police car had been parked behind the firetruck, some distance back, to help direct traffic, said Steve Brown, assistant fire chief for Central County Fire and Rescue.
The driver of the pickup "swerved to miss the … police car and made a hard turn back" into the lane, striking the firetruck, Brown said.
He said he wasn’t sure how far back the police car was. Brown said the firetruck’s emergency lights were on at the time.
Fire officials initially reported that the firetruck was parked in the far left lane. However, the Highway Patrol’s report says the firetruck was in lane 2, or the second lane from the left.
Five firefighters were on board the firetruck at the time of the crash. All five were seated in the truck and wearing seatbelts, Brown said.
They were taken to a hospital to be evaluated. Four were not injured, Brown said. One was slightly injured and was expected to return to work on Friday, Brown said.
Zaiz died at the scene. An autopsy and toxicology tests are pending.
Lisa Kolb of St. Charles, who is an aunt to Zaiz, said he ran a lawn care business. He was the father of two children, a daughter who is 11 and a son who is 3. She said he was a good father to the children.
According to court files, Zaiz had criminal convictions that included leaving the scene of an accident in St. Charles in 2002, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in 2009 in St. Peters and burglary in 2009 in St. Charles.
