Early morning I-70 Crash Forces Cancellation of State Fair Sea Li

A motor vehicle crash on I-70 early Thursday morning forced the cancellation of one of the most anticipated live animal shows scheduled to be at the 2026 Missouri State Fair.

According to the MSHP, a westbound 2015 Peterbilt 389, driven by a 59-year-old man from Mansfield Ohio, was on I-70 at the 133-mile marker in Boone County just after 3 a.m. Thursday, when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway for an unknown reason and struck a concrete median barrier.

A 27-year-old female from Harper, Texas, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia for treatment. Neither the driver nor the injured passenger were wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the report.

The Peterbilt had extensive damage and was towed from the scene.

“While several individuals sustained injuries, we are grateful to report that there were no fatalities. The sea lions were immediately evaluated by licensed veterinarians and have been confirmed to be in excellent health,” the Fair said in a press release on Thursday morning about "Sea Lion Splash."