Boone County Assistant Fire Chief Killed on I-70

According to a facebook post this morning, Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney, 58, was killed while on the scene of an early morning vehicle accident on Interstate 70.

“It is with great sadness that I announce that Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney was killed today while on the scene of an early morning vehicle accident on Interstate 70 westbound at mile marker 135.4, east of Columbia, near Route Z.

“Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney, other Boone County Fire District units and a University Ambulance were on the scene of the original accident involving a large commercial truck on its side at 4:33 a.m. While crews were working the accident scene, a westbound truck hit Assistant Chief Gladney’s vehicle (2015 Ford Explorer) at a high rate of speed and then struck the University Hospital Ambulance and the original truck involved.

“Crews on scene were able to quickly extricate Assistant Chief Gladney from his vehicle and transport him to the University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later (5:19 a.m.).

“No other first responders on the scene were injured. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers." --Scott Olsen, Fire Chief, Boone County Fire Protection District

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, which occurred at 4:33 a.m.

According to the Patrol, a  westbound 2021 Cascadia 116, driven by Kevin L. Brunson of KCMO, failed to slow down and struck the Explorer, which struck a 2013 Hino box truck (no driver in the vehicle at the time), which began rotating and struck the ambulance.

The Explorer was stopped in the right lane with its emergency lights activated, the report noted.

There were a total of 10 Troopers on scene.