Washington County, MO (May 5, 2026) – Two drivers from Potosi were hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Missouri Route 21, south of Shoal Road, on Monday, May 4, at approximately 5:55 p.m. Both vehicles were totaled in the collision.
A 74-year-old man was driving northbound on MO-21 when he turned left into the path of a southbound 2006 Ford Fusion driven by a 57-year-old man. The front of the latter struck the front right of the turning vehicle. The Fusion then left the road and hit a tree before coming to rest, blocking the southbound lane.
Both drivers suffered moderate injuries. The 74-year-old was taken to a local hospital, and the 57-year-old was taken to a separate hospital in the area. The first was wearing a safety device at the time of the crash; the other was not.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as they become available.
Our thoughts are with both drivers as they recover.
What Risks Come with Left-Turn Crashes on Two-Lane Highways in Missouri?
Left-turn crashes on two-lane rural highways in Missouri are among the more serious types of collisions outside city limits. When a driver turns left across oncoming traffic, the window for the other driver to react is very short, especially at higher speeds common on state routes. The resulting impact frequently involves the front ends of both vehicles, causing significant damage even at moderate speeds. The last was a contributing factor in 39% of all fatal crashes in Missouri in 2023, and aggressive driving remains the top concern identified in state crash data.
Rural roads like MO-21 in Washington County often lack dedicated left-turn lanes or protected signal phases, which increases risk at intersections and driveways. Rural areas in Missouri tend to have fewer total crashes, but those that do occur are more severe due to higher speeds and slower emergency response times. When a vehicle also leaves the roadway after a crash and strikes a fixed object like a tree, the force of that secondary impact can add to injuries already sustained in the initial collision. Missouri recorded 169 traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease of 31 compared to the same period in 2025, though rural corridors remain among the state’s most dangerous stretches of road.
