St. Louis Man Killed After Stepping Out of Car, Struck on I‑70 East Ramp near Bermuda Drive

A shocking early‑morning crash on Sunday left a 37‑year-old man dead along the eastbound ramp to Interstate 70 (I‑70) near Bermuda Drive in North County, St. Louis — a moment that turned a minor roadside accident into heartbreaking tragedy.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the sequence began when the man’s vehicle was involved in a minor crash on the ramp, prompting him to step out to inspect the damage. No one was injured in that initial incident, but seconds later — while he was standing in lane one — an eastbound 2013 Mercedes‑Benz E350 driven by a 24‑year-old male from St. Louis struck him.

Emergency crews from the Northeast County Fire Protection District responded swiftly, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20 a.m. The driver of the Mercedes sustained minor injuries and was treated on-site; authorities say he remained at the scene and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Little is known publicly about the victim. What is clear — from friends, neighbors, and those who knew him — is that he was just out to check on his car after what seemed like a small crash, a decision that tragically cost him his life. The sudden loss has left his community reeling.

As police continue reviewing evidence — including vehicle positions, roadway lighting, and timing — the broader public is being reminded how fragile roadside safety can be, especially on busy interstate ramps like that of I‑70. Experts say such secondary collisions (those that happen after an initial accident) happen all too often, particularly when people exit their vehicles in high-speed areas.

For now, those who knew the man are remembering him not for how his life ended, but how he lived — as someone ordinary, in the middle of an ordinary night, caught in circumstances no one could foresee. And while investigators piece together exactly how the crash unfolded, the ramp near Bermuda Drive stands as a grim reminder of how quickly routine can turn into irreversible loss.

For his family, friends and community — grief has come too soon, and too relentlessly.