TRUCK DRIVER DIES NORTH OF PERRYVILLE

PERRYVILLE - A 55-year-old truck driver from Chaffee was killed early Saturday morning when the semi-truck he was driving ran off the southbound lane of I-55, and overturned down a steep embankment, one mile north of Perryville.

The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the victim as Lester Acey of 322 Davidson.

Investigators said Acey apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his truck. Acey was airlifted by Air Evac helicopter to Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 12:45 a.m., Saturday, about 30 minutes after the accident, the patrol said.

The accident caused traffic to back up in the southbound lane of the interstate for about 15 minutes.

The body is at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee. Funeral services will be held Monday.