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Independence, MO —
The Missouri Department of Transportation has identified the motorist assist operator who was killed while responding to a crash early Friday morning in Independence.
Clifton J. Scott, who celebrated 15 years of service with MoDOT on Monday, was providing traffic control assistance at a Interstate 70/470 crash site when he was struck by a motorist.
Scott, 50, began his career with MoDOT as a maintenance crew worker. He was promoted to an intermediate, then senior, crew worker, before joining motorist assist in August 2002.
According to Independence Police Department spokesman Tom Gentry, a four-vehicle accident took place near Interstate 70/470 (Missouri 291) at about 1:40 a.m. One person was injured in the initial crash and was taken to a local hospital.
Because that wreck had blocked the eastbound lanes on I-70, Independence police and MoDOT went to I-70 and Lee’s Summit Road to divert traffic to U.S. 40 to avoid a traffic backup near the initial crash.
An individual driving in the eastbound lanes of I-70 did not slow down or stop, Gentry said. That individual’s vehicle struck Scott and killed him. A MoDOT vehicle also was struck and caught fire. The person driving that vehicle was injured and was taken to a local hospital.
All lanes of I-70 between the Noland Road and Missouri 291 exits were closed following the second crash. Westbound lanes were reopened at about 6:30 a.m. and eastbound lanes were reopened by about 8:30 a.m.
Independence police are continuing to investigate.
The Missouri Department of Transportation has identified the motorist assist operator who was killed while responding to a crash early Friday morning in Independence.
Clifton J. Scott, who celebrated 15 years of service with MoDOT on Monday, was providing traffic control assistance at a Interstate 70/470 crash site when he was struck by a motorist.
Scott, 50, began his career with MoDOT as a maintenance crew worker. He was promoted to an intermediate, then senior, crew worker, before joining motorist assist in August 2002.
According to Independence Police Department spokesman Tom Gentry, a four-vehicle accident took place near Interstate 70/470 (Missouri 291) at about 1:40 a.m. One person was injured in the initial crash and was taken to a local hospital.
Because that wreck had blocked the eastbound lanes on I-70, Independence police and MoDOT went to I-70 and Lee’s Summit Road to divert traffic to U.S. 40 to avoid a traffic backup near the initial crash.
An individual driving in the eastbound lanes of I-70 did not slow down or stop, Gentry said. That individual’s vehicle struck Scott and killed him. A MoDOT vehicle also was struck and caught fire. The person driving that vehicle was injured and was taken to a local hospital.
All lanes of I-70 between the Noland Road and Missouri 291 exits were closed following the second crash. Westbound lanes were reopened at about 6:30 a.m. and eastbound lanes were reopened by about 8:30 a.m.
Independence police are continuing to investigate.
