Animal in roadway leads to early morning crash on I-55 near Fruitland

A motorist’s attempt to avoid an animal in the roadway resulted in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County this morning.

The accident occurred 5 miles north of Fruitland at around 3:15 a.m. as a 2003 Ford driven by Cheron S. Lester, 42, of Springfield, Ill., attempted to avoid an animal in the roadway, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website. The Ford then ran off the roadway, struck a median crossover cable and overturned. The vehicle was totaled.

Three other passengers - all of Springfield - in the vehicle were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Cheron and a 13-year-old female were treated for moderate injuries while a four-year-old male and eight-year-old female were treated for minor injuries.

Pertinent address:

Interstate 55, Fruitland, Mo.