Two Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Budweiser Clydesdale on I-70

Multi-vehicle collision on I-70 leaves two injured

A Wednesday morning commute turned into a chaotic scene on Interstate 70 in Columbia when a multi-vehicle crash involving a Budweiser Clydesdale left two people hospitalized. The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. near Exit 125, the junction for Business Loop 70, resulting in significant traffic disruptions for eastbound drivers.

The Columbia Police Department confirmed that as many as five vehicles were caught in the collision, according to a news release issued Wednesday afternoon. The impact on those involved was immediate. A 57-year-old man from Columbia was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, and a juvenile driver was also hospitalized with minor injuries, as reported by the Columbia Police Department.

Two people hurt in Columbia I-70 crash that involved a Budweiser Clydesdale

Discrepancies in crash reporting

Official accounts of the scale of the accident have varied slightly among responding agencies. While the Columbia Police Department reported that up to five vehicles were involved, the Missouri Department of Transportation placed that number at three. Meanwhile, the Columbia Fire Department noted that their initial crews arrived to find two vehicles sustaining moderate to heavy damage.

The presence of a Budweiser Clydesdale at the center of the crash added an unusual layer to the emergency response. Assistant Fire Chief Zachary Grace stated that he could not recall another instance in his career involving large animals like horses or cows running freely on the interstate. Despite the rarity of the event, Grace noted that the department maintains established protocols for such situations, including partnerships with the University of Missouri veterinary clinics, which remain on standby for incidents involving large animals.

Photo: crashdaily.com

Questions surrounding the Clydesdale’s transit

A primary point of uncertainty remains the origin and oversight of the horse involved in the collision. It is not currently known whether the handlers accompanying the Clydesdale were employees or contractors associated with Anheuser-Busch, according to reporting from crashdaily.com. When reached for comment by KOMU 8, the company provided a brief statement confirming their involvement but did not clarify the logistics of the transport.

We are aware that one of our vehicles was involved in a traffic accident, and we can share that the driver and the horse were not injured, Anheuser-Busch said in the statement.

The physical safety of the horse and its driver stands in stark contrast to the injuries sustained by the other motorists involved. As the investigation continues, authorities have yet to release details regarding how the animal came to be on the interstate or the specific events that led to the multi-vehicle pileup.