A fatal accident closed down a portion of Interstate 70 in the eastbound lanes between Altamont and Effingham Friday night. The accident occurred at approximately 7:20pm near the rest stop at mile marker 87.
Police say that 49-year-old Ralph Randall of Lowell Arkansas was was traveling eastbound when his when he approached traffic that was slowed due to an earlier accident. Randall failed to reduce his speed when approaching the traffic. He attempted to swerve to avoid an accident when he collided with a semi driven by 60-year-old Carlos Gomez of Grand Prairie, Texas. Randall’s vehicle collided with the rear of the semi before stopping underneath the semi’s trailer. Randall and a passenger in his vehicle, 18-year-old Mariah Prather of Springdale, Arkansas, had to be extradited from the vehicle. Both Randall and Prather were transported to St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, were Prather was pronounced dead shortly after.
Interstate 70 was closed in the area of the accident until around 12:30am Saturday.