Police looking for driver in crash on Highway 34

A Wednesday morning crash between a dump truck and an SUV on Highway 34 in rural Cape Girardeau County has the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and the Jackson Police Department searching for a person who fled the scene of the accident.

The crash between an International dump truck and a GMC Yukon happened at about 11:30 a.m., just outside Jackson.

"I heard a loud thud," said Greg Miller, who lives in a house next to the highway where the accident occurred. "I went outside and saw the dump truck had crashed into the ditch and the Yukon was in the ditch across the road."

Emergency personnel work to clear the road after a two-vehicle accident involving a dump truck and a GMC Yukon Wednesday, March 27, near 1614 Highway 34. The Yukon pulled out in front of the truck which swerved in an attempt to avoid the collision, clipping the Yukon, spinning around 180 degrees and rolling over into the ditch according to witnesses. The driver of the Yukon then fled the scene. The driver of the dump truck was not injured. (Adam Vogler)

Gary Dudley Jr. was in the house with Miller at the time of the accident.

"I ran to the dump truck," Dudley said. "I was afraid that it might blow up, but I wanted to get the driver out of the cab."

Dudley said he kicked out the windshield of the dump truck and pulled the driver, Don McAnally, 77, to safety.

McAnally, who was uninjured, said he had been westbound on Highway 34 when the Yukon pulled onto the highway in front of him. His dump truck hit the rear of the Yukon and sent it into a ditch across the highway. The dump truck did a 180-degree turn and landed on its side in the ditch next to the westbound lane.

"It all happened so quick," said McAnally, who was wearing his seat belt.

The driver of the Yukon fled the accident scene and had not been arrested as of late Wednesday afternoon. According to Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan, the person is believed to be wanted in another matter.

"We will continue our search," Jordan said.

Jordan didn't disclose the suspect's gender.

Miller said he believes the driver of the Yukon was female and he heard a female-sounding voice cursing before he saw the person flee.

"The driver looked and sounded female to me," Miller said.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of the driver of the GMC Yukon is asked to contact the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department at 243-3551 or the Jackson Police Department at 243-3151.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Highway 34, Jackson, Mo.