Mercer, MO (January 16, 2026) – Two people, including a young child, sustained injuries in a rear-end accident involving a passenger vehicle and a farm tractor on Thursday morning on US-65, approximately four miles north of Princeton in Mercer County.
The incident occurred at around 7:05 a.m., when a southbound 2001 Dodge Durango, driven by a 28-year-old woman from Mercer, failed to notice a slower-moving John Deere farm tractor ahead. The Durango struck the rear of the tractor, causing it to veer onto the southbound shoulder. The Durango came to rest facing south in the northbound lanes following the impact.
Emergency medical teams from Mercer County responded to the crash site. The female driver and a 5-year-old boy who was riding as a passenger were both treated for injuries and transported by ambulance to Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton. The child had been properly secured using a safety device, while the driver had not been wearing one.
The operator of the tractor, a 53-year-old man from Princeton, was not injured and was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene. The Dodge Durango, however, sustained extensive damage and was towed by the registered owner.
Authorities from Troop H and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the investigation, which remains ongoing. Officials have noted that driver inattention was a contributing factor in the collision.
Our thoughts are with the injured individuals as they recover from this incident.
