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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.- The Missouri Highway Patrol says two people are dead following a crash on I-55 in Jefferson County.

The crash happened in the northbound lanes, just past Route Z near Pevely.

Officials say the crash involved a tractor-trailer and four other cars.

The tractor-trailer was driving northbound in the third lane. A 2015 Chevrolet Cruze was also traveling northbound in the third lane but under the minimum speed limit. The tractor-trailer put on his brakes when he approached the Cruze, but he hit the back of it. This caused the Cruze to drive off the right side of the road and overturn. The tractor-trailer then went to the left and hit the right side of a 2013 Accura. The tractor-trailer continued through the cable barrier and hit the left front of a 2020 Kia Telluride. The cable barrier then hit the left side of a 2019 Nissan Altima.

Rebecca Byrd, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:48 p.m. The Ste. Genevieve woman was the driver of the 2020 Kia Telluride. Her passenger, 72-year-old Leonard Byrd, also died.

The driver of the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, 23-year-old Jacob Stevenson, suffered moderate injuries.

The Missouri Highway Patrol says it is unsure of how long the closure will last. Traffic cameras in the area show a back up of vehicles.