WENTZVILLE, Mo. - A deadly crash on Interstate 70 in Wentzville on Monday has some drivers calling for a closer examination of whether any action could be taken to prevent another tragedy.

Investigators say a 17-year-old driver from Belleville was killed after he lost control of his vehicle while traveling east on I-70. 

A witness said the teen’s car crashed into median cables and ended up in the westbound lanes of the interstate. The teen was traveling through an area with a reduced speed limit for a construction zone.

State Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, drove by the scene of the fatal crash a few minutes after it occurred.

“Right now, I’m going to have to fight back tears,” she said. “I just don’t want to see another tragedy like we had today, and my heart just absolutely goes out to the family of this young man.”

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, but Byrnes has contacted officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local elected leaders, asking if any steps can be taken to avoid another tragedy. 

“It just takes one person who does not understand the danger of this road, and things can go bad very quickly,” said Byrnes.

A spokesperson for MoDOT said the agency continues to coordinate closely with first responders regarding the crash. 

MoDOT and its contractor recently reduced the speed limit to 55 miles per hour in the I-70 work zone from Route 47 in Warrenton to Route A in St. Charles County.

“We really need people to slow down,” said Byrnes.

She also believes any efforts related to beefing up enforcement need to consider first responder safety.

“I don’t want law enforcement to get run over, which is a very real possibility in a construction zone, for giving out a ticket,” said Byrnes.

Kansas City area resident Corey Flynn was driving on westbound I-70 when he saw the victim’s vehicle veer off the eastbound lanes.

“I heard screeching, and I was looking around trying to figure out where it was from, and by the time I figured out it was coming from the other side of the highway, it was already headed toward me,” said Flynn. “It took me about ten minutes to even call the police because I was in so much shock.”

He said it wasn’t clear to him why the victim lost control of this vehicle.  His heart goes out to the victim’s family. He was still shaken over what he witnessed as he continued his drive home.

“I was actually paying more attention to the other side of the highway because of that,” said Flynn.  “I’ve never felt like I had to drive like that before.”