U.S. 50 is reopened after fatal accident in Lee’s Summit

The driver of a tractor-trailer was killed Thursday in a single-vehicle accident in the westbound lanes of U.S. 50 in Lee’s Summit.

The crash occurred about 11:30 a.m. at the O’Brien Street overpass. The victim’s name has not been released.

Police closed traffic in both directions on U.S. 50 for several hours while investigators gathered evidence and cleared debris. The highway reopened about 3:30 p.m.

According to an initial police report, the driver lost control of the truck and traveled off the roadway to the south. The truck struck the concrete bridge support for the O’Brien overpass. The motorist died at the scene.

Police were working with Missouri Department of Transportation engineers to determine if the bridge remained safe for travel.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 12:47 PM with the headline "U.S. 50 is reopened after fatal accident in Lee’s Summit."