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ST. LOUIS — Police on Wednesday identified the two people killed in a head-on collision last week after the driver of an SUV merged onto Interstate 55 going the wrong direction.

Dawn Tampow, 63, and Ralph Morse, 74, both died Friday at around 7:30 p.m. after Tampow’s gray Kia SUV had entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 55 at Truman Parkway going south, police said.

Tampow kept going for roughly 2 miles until her Kia collided head-on with Morse’s white Corvette just north of the on-ramp at Gasconade Street.

Both died on the scene.

Police have not released additional details about the crash, including why Tampow was driving the wrong way down the highway.

said the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ resident had a son and was also a grandmother. Her service will be held at 5 p.m. July 8 at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road.

Morse, who lived in Imperial but was a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ native, was a “a beloved concert lover and kind-hearted community member,â€�

He was often found upfront at concerts, like at a Rolling Stones tribute band show in 2021 at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Music Park, or dancing, like he was at Blueberry Hill’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2022.

Ky Katzman, of south ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, said he met Morse in the early 1990s. He said Morse was known throughout the local music scene.

“He just radiated joy,� Katzman said. “I mean, I never saw him in a bad mood.�

Katzman said while Morse attended concerts in all genres of music, his favorite band was probably El Monstero, a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½-based Pink Floyd tribute band.

The band loved him back, Katzman said. One year, it put a picture of Morse on its backstage passes. Then, last year, Katzman saw El Monstero with Morse for what would be the last time.

“At the end of the night, as the confetti was raining down, one of the guys took off his guitar and handed it to Ralph and walked off,� he said. “And Ralph turns around and holds up the guitar, and everyone’s cheering — not for the band, but for Ralph.�

Morse lost his Imperial home in a March tornado, Katzman said.

In an email Morse sent to his music community after the storms, he said no one was hurt — including his cats John and Yoko.

He told everyone not to worry, that he was staying in Arnold with his brother.

“As for me, my spirits are (always) high, and I’m blessed with all the resources I need to get through this,� Morse wrote in the email. “I hate to state the obvious, but you really don’t need to take up a collection for a guy who buys Corvettes, Cadillacs, and Porsches at the drop of a hat.�

And don’t call him, he said in the email. His landline had been destroyed by the storm — and he didn’t have a cellphone.

“I will NOT be rebuilding on this property, so as of now I am 100% ‘off the grid,’� he said.

Katzman said the Corvette that Morse was driving the night he died had been bought with money from his insurance claim.

“Music was his language, and he found connection and peace in the rhythm of live performances,� his obituary says. “Many will remember Ralph dancing near the stage, singing along with a wide smile, living each note with gratitude.�

His service had not been scheduled as of Wednesday afternoon, according to his online obituary.