Oran man killed in accident; passenger suffers minor injuries

An Oran, Mo., man was fatally injured on Monday after his truck flipped over on Interstate 55.

Driver James R. Schram, 66, died at Saint Francis Medical Center. Passenger Benny D. Cook, 67, of Oran, received minor injuries.

The accident occurred near 3 p.m. on southbound I-55, just south of Center Junction past the 99-mile marker. The truck was hauling a livestock trailer full of lumber. While in the right lane, the trailer began to fishtail.

According to witness Toni Riley of Festus, Mo., Schram abruptly applied his brakes.

"The trailer broke off and the truck went airborne," she said.

Schram was ejected and the truck landed on him; then the truck flipped a second time. It came to a stop on its side in the median, the front facing north. The trailer ended up south of the truck in the median.

Schram was unconscious, Riley said, and was taken immediately to the hospital. Cook was able to walk around and explain the accident to officers.