ST. LOUIS, MO – A tragic accident occurred early Wednesday morning on Interstate 44 near Vandeventer Avenue in St. Louis, resulting in the death of Colleen Lischwe, the head coach for the men’s and women’s water polo teams at McKendree University in Illinois. The Missouri Department of Transportation confirmed the crash involved two vehicles, a passenger car and a semitruck, taking place around 6 a.m.
Lischwe, 34, was driving a Toyota Prius when the semitruck struck the back of her car. The force of the collision caused the Prius to veer off the interstate and onto Vandeventer Avenue. Despite being rushed to the hospital following the incident, Lischwe succumbed to her injuries.
According to St. Louis police, the semitruck driver reported that he had been looking down to grab a drink when the crash occurred. Upon looking up, he saw Lischwe’s vehicle in front of him. It remains unclear whether the Prius was stopped or moving at the time of the collision, but it was confirmed that the driver of the semitruck did not notice the car in time to avoid the accident.
In the aftermath of the crash, police conducted a blood draw on the semitruck driver to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident. As of now, no additional information regarding the investigation has been made available.
Lischwe was well-known within the McKendree University community, where she had made a significant impact as head coach of the school’s water polo teams. The news of her death has left the university and the St. Louis community in shock and mourning. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, and more details may be revealed as the investigation progresses.
The tragedy highlights the dangers of distracted driving and serves as a reminder for drivers to remain attentive and focused on the road at all times.
