Several agencies responded Friday morning to an accident scene in southern Texas County, where a tractor-trailer unit overturned and trapped the driver.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said a northbound 2006 Freightliner driven by Robert J. Naes, 31, of Piggott, Ark., ran off Highway 181 about four miles south of Cabool and struck a tree.
Naes was flown from the scene with serious injuries to Cox South in Springfield.
A major crash investigative state team was called. The patrol remained on the scene early Friday afternoon.
Emergency personnel were concerned about a ruptured 150-gallon diesel tank and the load, which was a corn product. The Missouri Department of Health and Missouri Department of Natural Resources were contacted.
An environment cleanup firm from Springfield was called to the scene.
Five highway patrol officers responded, with Tpr. Stacy Crewse leading the investigation.