The accident closed the southbound lane for about 30 minutes.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating whether the driver of the black Sonoma truck was under the influence of alcohol.

The patrol says that driver attempted to cross 63 at Route A. A silver Explorer hit the truck while it was making that cross. That vehicle then went on to hit a dark van entering the highway.

"I don't know how common you can say this is. I've worked at lot on them just like this and when you add alcohol to the mix, it's a lot more common," Tim Tillin of the Missouri Highway Patrol said.

A helicopter airlifted the driver of the truck to the hospital with critical injuries. The driver of the Explorer also went to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries. But the driver of the van walked away from the accident unhurt.