Rolla, MO (July 14, 2026) – A 74-year-old woman was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 63 approximately 300 feet south of Rolla on Sunday, July 12. The collision was reported at approximately 3:56 p.m.
A 41-year-old man from Oklahoma City was driving a 2013 Suzuki SX4 southbound on Highway 63 when he attempted to make a left turn into a parking lot and struck a 2010 Toyota Sienna traveling northbound. The Sienna was driven by a 74-year-old woman from Rolla.
The woman was taken to Phelps Health by Phelps County EMS with moderate injuries. Both vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene. No identities were included in the initial crash report on the wreck.
The cause of the accident has been established, though the full investigation remains ongoing. We hope the woman recovers quickly and fully.
What Makes Left-Turn Crashes Into Parking Lots a Common Hazard on Highway Corridors?
Left turns across oncoming traffic are among the most demanding maneuvers a driver makes on a highway corridor. The turning driver must judge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles accurately while also watching for pedestrians and managing their own vehicle’s position. A miscalculation, even a small one, can place the turning vehicle directly in the path of an oncoming car with little time for either driver to react.
Parking lot entrances along highway corridors like Highway 63 create frequent conflict points where through traffic and turning vehicles must share a narrow window of time and space. Drivers turning left into these lots may wait for a gap in traffic but misjudge the closing speed of an approaching vehicle, particularly when that vehicle is traveling at highway speeds. The result is a head-on or front-quarter collision that generates significant force for both vehicles involved.
When both vehicles in a crash are classified as total losses, it reflects the energy involved in the collision and the extent to which each car’s structure was compromised. Total-loss designations are made by insurance assessors based on whether the cost of repair exceeds the vehicle’s value, but they also serve as an indicator of the severity of the crash itself. Occupants of both vehicles in a total-loss collision are at elevated risk of serious injury, even when safety devices perform as designed.
