Afternoon accident closes one lane of Interstate 55

An accident on Interstate 55 southbound Monday afternoon, which shut down one lane of traffic, sent one driver to the hospital.

The driver sustained non-life threatening injuries, according to Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Jason Selzer.

Selzer said as a semitruck hauling grain was attempting to accelerate to cruising speed on the interstate a smaller pickup truck, merging onto the interstate at a higher rate of speed, hit the back of the grain truck.

The smaller truck rolled two or three times, Selzer said, and the driver had to be extricated from the vehicle.

The driver of the grain truck was not hurt in the accident.

Selzer said no summonses have been issued at this time, but the accident remains under investigation.

Traffic was congested on Interstate 55 for less than an hour.