Winter storm causes multiple traffic issues

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Law enforcement officials across Southeast Missouri worked more than 75 crashes during last week's winter storm, including a 10-vehicle pileup in Butler County.

The pileup, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, occurred about 4:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Highway 67 at the bottom of a hill, just past Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E Headquarters.

Butler County deputies assisted the patrol in clearing the pileup, he said, which began when one or two vehicles "went sideways" and started a chain reaction as motorists traveled over the hill.

At least one of the vehicles involved was a tractor-trailer, Dobbs said.

"It wasn't that all 10 cars collided," he said. "Some collided, some got crossways in the road, (and) some were in the ditch."

No injuries were reported.

Dobbs said both northbound lanes were blocked for about 30 minutes.

Roads were covered in snow at that point. "The poor visibility did play a part in it, for sure," he said.

Pertinent address:

4947 Highway 67 North, Poplar Bluff, Mo.