Blodgett woman killed in Thursday night Interstate 55 collision

A Blodgett, Mo., woman was fatally struck by a car on Interstate 55 six miles south of Benton, Mo., Thursday evening.

Melissa L. Loughary, 35, reportedly ran into the path of a 2004 Freightliner driven by Christopher G. Hopkins, 34, of St. Louis at around 11:10 p.m., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website. Loughary was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:11 a.m. Friday by Scott County Coroner Scott Amick.

Hopkins told officers who responded to the crash that he swerved to avoid the victim, but the trailer of the vehicle collided with her, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.

Pertinent address

Benton, MO