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According to the crash report, the man was driving a 1997 Honda Civic westbound when he attempted to cross northbound US 63. His vehicle entered the path of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata traveling north. The Sonata struck the driver’s side of the Civic. The male driver was pronounced deceased at the scene at 5:26 a.m. Neither driver was wearing a safety device at the time of the crash.
The 29-year-old woman driving the Sonata, from Columbia, Missouri, was hurt and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Both vehicles were extensively damaged and towed from the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as they become available. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life.
What Makes Highway Crossings at Rural Missouri Intersections Particularly Dangerous?
Crossing a high-speed highway at a rural intersection is one of the more dangerous maneuvers a driver can make, especially in low-light or early morning conditions. Traffic on a major U.S. route typically moves fast, and gaps between vehicles can be difficult to judge from a stopped or slow-moving position. When a driver misjudges that gap, a side-impact collision — one of the most deadly crash types — often results.
In Missouri, crashes at rural highway crossings tend to be severe because of the speed difference between the two vehicles involved. A car crossing a highway is fully exposed to oncoming traffic on its side, where there is the least structural protection for the driver. These intersection types are a consistent focus of highway safety efforts across the state.
