Franklin County, MO (May 13, 2025) – A serious head-on collision late Monday afternoon on Route AB left two young men from St. Clair injured, including one with significant trauma, after a northbound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic due to driver inattention.
The crash took place around 3:50 p.m. just south of Wagner Dr in Franklin County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 27-year-old male was operating a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt northbound on Route AB while distracted by a phone conversation. As he traveled, he inadvertently crossed the centerline into the southbound lane.
At the same moment, a 20-year-old man, also from St. Clair, was heading southbound in a 2011 Jeep Patriot. The distracted driver’s Cobalt struck the Jeep head-on, causing devastating front-end damage to both vehicles. The force of the collision resulted in both cars being declared total losses and towed from the scene by Hoffman’s Towing.
The driver of the Cobalt, who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained serious injuries and was transported by St. Clair Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Washington, MO. The Jeep driver, who was properly restrained, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the same hospital by private vehicle.
Troopers with Troop C cited distracted driving as a central cause of the crash. The investigation remains active as officials assess whether additional actions or citations may be appropriate.
We extend our best wishes to both injured drivers as they recover, and we hope for their full and swift healing.
Distracted Driving Accidents in Missouri
Distracted driving remains one of Missouri’s most urgent roadway safety concerns, especially when it leads to crossover crashes like the one that occurred Monday on Route AB near Wagner Dr. In this instance, the distraction was caused by a phone conversation—one of the most common contributors to serious collisions.
The consequences were immediate and severe: a head-on crash between two St. Clair residents, resulting in both drivers being hospitalized and both vehicles being totaled. Although the 20-year-old Jeep driver wore a seatbelt and sustained moderate injuries, the other driver—unbelted—suffered more serious trauma, further demonstrating the combined risks of inattention and lack of restraint use.
Route AB, like many of Franklin County’s rural roads, is a two-lane corridor with minimal margin for error. Once a vehicle drifts across the centerline, the outcome often depends on fractions of a second and whether oncoming traffic can react in time. These roads demand full attention at all times, yet phone use behind the wheel continues to jeopardize lives.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, distracted driving was a factor in nearly 20,000 crashes statewide last year alone. Laws are tightening, but the personal responsibility to focus entirely on driving remains the most effective safeguard. Using hands-free systems, pulling over to take calls, or simply waiting until the trip ends can prevent life-altering events like this one.
This crash should serve as a warning to drivers throughout the region: no call or message is worth the danger posed by looking away from the road. And wearing a seatbelt, even for short drives, remains a critical layer of protection.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a distracted driving crash, know that you’re not alone. There are resources to help navigate recovery—both medically and legally—so you can focus on healing.
Being injured in a crash caused by distraction is a difficult experience, but there is help. Local Accident Reports offers timely, compassionate support to victims and their families, guiding you through the steps of recovery, legal understanding, and local care access. Reach out to Local Accident Reports today to connect with the support system you deserve.