A pre-dawn crash on U.S. Highway 60 about three miles west of Morehouse in Stoddard County left one man dead and two others injured early Saturday. The two-vehicle wreck happened around 4:50 a.m. on May 9 and ended with one SUV overturned on the shoulder after two people were ejected. Troopers briefly shut down the highway while first responders worked the scene and investigators started piecing together what happened.
Patrol’s Early Findings
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC rear-ended a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan in the eastbound lanes of US 60, roughly three miles west of Morehouse. After the impact, the Mercedes ran off the road and overturned, ejecting both the driver and a passenger from the vehicle. The patrol’s initial report pegs the crash time at about 4:50 a.m. and notes that the highway was closed for a short time as troopers secured the area and tow crews cleared the debris.
Victims and Hospitalizations
The Mercedes driver, a 28-year-old man from Nacogdoches, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said, as reported by WSIL. A 26-year-old man from Houston who was riding in the Mercedes suffered serious injuries and was transported to Region One Medical Center in Memphis. The Dodge’s driver, a 50-year-old man from Dexter, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Authorities said next-of-kin notifications and other identifying details had not yet been released as of Saturday afternoon.
Highway Safety Concerns
This crash is the latest serious wreck along the US 60 corridor in southeast Missouri. Troop E of the Missouri State Highway Patrol has recorded 15 traffic-related deaths so far in 2026, according to patrol records. Troopers continue to urge drivers to buckle up and ease off the gas on open highways, and investigators say they will release more details once the full crash report is finished.
The cause of Saturday’s collision remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet said whether speed or impairment played any role. This story will be updated as officials release additional information.
