5 From Wentzville Injured in Blanchette Bridge Crash

A 2002 GMC Yukon driven by Wentzville resident Luis A. Burzio, 46, was involved in a two-car accident on the Blanchette Bridge that sent a total of seven people to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

Burzio was eastbound on I-70 over the bridge at 3:20 p.m. when a 2003 Chevy Tahoe driven by Ryan M. Merrifield, 18, of Maryland Heights changed lanes to the left.  The left front of Merrifield's vehicle struck the front right of Burzio's.

Both cars then struck the left concrete median barrier. Burzio swerved to the right, crossed all the lanes of traffic and struck the right concrete barrier head one.

Merrifield's Tahoe overturned several times, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.

Merrifield and his passenger Margaret A Merrifield, 12, received minor injuries and were transported to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur.

Burzio and passengers Lucca Burzio, 12, Piero Burzio, 17, and Paula A. Roca, 43, received minor injuries and were taken to DePaul Hospital. Another passenger, Bella Burzio, 10, received moderate injuries and was also taken to DePaul.

Both vehicles were totaled. All of the drivers and passengers in both cars were wearing safety belts.

The Blanchette Bridge has recently been the site of two fatal crashes. Read more on St. Charles Patch: