Columbia, MO : Portion of westbound Interstate 70 was shut down for about three hours early Thursday morning after a crash involving four tractor-trailers on October 2nd 2014

A portion of westbound Interstate 70 was shut down for about three hours early Thursday morning after a crash involving four tractor-trailers between Sorrells overpass and Stadium Boulevard. The Columbia Fire Department responded to the area at 4:13 a.m., according to a news release from Battalion Chief John Metz. Units arrived at 4:21 a.m. to find four tractor-trailers — two on the roadway — and a significant amount of debris blocking westbound I-70 at the 123.6 mile marker, he said. Firefighters checked each truck and found one driver was pinned in the wreckage, Metz said. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to free the man — identified by police as 63-year-old James Warriner of Holden — and he was taken to a local hospital with what police described as “moderate disabling injuries.” Columbia police Officer Latisha Stroer said Warriner suffered a broken leg. No one else was injured in the crash. “We were fortunate, with this level of damage, that we didn’t have more serious injuries” Metz said. The crash happened as a yellow and black Estes Kenworth truck pulling two trailers was traveling westbound on I-70 and its outside mirror was struck by an unidentified tractor-trailer also traveling westbound, the Columbia Police Department said in a news release. As the Kenworth swerved to avoid further contact, its rear trailer separated from the other trailer, overturned and came to rest on its side in the outside driving lane, the news release said. A white Pegasus tractor-trailer hit the overturned trailer, and a third semi hit the back of the Pegasus truck. A fourth tractor-trailer crashed into an embankment while trying to avoid a collision. Warriner was driving the fourth tractor-trailer, police said. Firefighters determined there was no hazardous cargo or significant fuel leaks. The Missouri Department of Transportation brought in heavy equipment to clear the driving lanes. Much of the debris was moved to the north side of the interstate and will be removed later, Metz said. Around 7:15 a.m., Boone County Public Safety Joint Communications reported that the westbound lanes of I-70 were reopened but to expect traffic to be moving slowly. Five Columbia fire units, one Boone County Fire Protection District unit and two medic units responded to the incident, Metz said. The crash happened as a series of strong storms moved through the area for a second day. On Wednesday afternoon, Boone County Public Safety Joint Communications activated outdoor warning sirens across the county after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for southern Boone County. A trained weather spotter observed a wall cloud south of Ashland, but there were no reports of tornadoes or damage related to the storm, according to a news release from the agency. The agency activates outdoor warning sirens across the county no matter which portion is affected. However, officials hope to soon implement three zones to better target siren activation. Much of Central Missouri remained under a flash flood watch until 7 p.m. Thursday. The Sanborn Field weather station at the University of Missouri reported more than 3 inches of rainfall between midnight and 11 a.m. Source : One tractor-trailer driver injured in crash on I-70