Saline County, MO (September 8, 2026) — A 66-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man died late Sunday night, September 6, 2026, after he was struck by a semi-truck while walking eastbound on Interstate 70 in Saline County, according to troopers. It happened near mile marker 70.4.
The semi-truck’s driver, a man from San Antonio, Texas, stopped after the wreck and cooperated with investigators, troopers said. He was not injured.
No further details about what led up to the collision, or why the man was walking along the interstate, have been released.
The investigation remained ongoing as this report was filed. Our thoughts are with the man’s family during this difficult time.
What to Do if You’re Ever Walking Along a Highway at Night
People sometimes end up walking along a highway for practical reasons, like a car breaking down or running out of gas and needing to reach the next exit or find cell service to call for help. Whatever the reason, walking along an interstate at night puts a person in a setting built entirely around fast-moving vehicles, with none of the sidewalks or crosswalks found on a typical street.
If walking along a highway shoulder becomes necessary, facing oncoming traffic makes it possible to see an approaching vehicle and react if it drifts too close. Using a phone flashlight or wearing anything light-colored or reflective can also help a driver notice a person on the shoulder sooner, especially where lighting is limited.
Staying as far from the travel lanes as the shoulder allows is important throughout, but calling for roadside assistance is generally safer than covering a long distance on foot when a phone and signal are available. Waiting inside a disabled vehicle with hazard lights on is often the safer choice when that option exists.
