A 29-year-old Pacific man was killed Friday morning when the UTV he was driving collided with a Toyota Prius and overturned on West Osage Street near Missouri Route 100 in Franklin County. The crash unfolded during the morning commute, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Emergency crews shut down the roadway while investigators worked the crash site.
According to FOX 2, the collision happened around 8:15 a.m. when the UTV hit the front of the Prius, then overturned. FOX 2 reports the victim was a 29-year-old man from Pacific and that he died at the scene. The outlet also notes that Troop C of the Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.
Troopers Investigating
The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop C said investigators remained on scene gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses to piece together what led to the crash, including whether the UTV was being driven on the roadway before impact. The patrol, which covers the St. Louis region, plans to release additional information as its investigation moves forward. Officials are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information to contact Troop C.
Another Recent UTV Fatality Locally
This marks at least the second fatal UTV wreck in Franklin County this spring. On May 2, a head-on UTV crash on Old Gray Summit Road also killed a Pacific man, local outlet KTTN reported. That earlier collision prompted renewed calls for riders to keep UTVs off public roads and to use safety restraints every time they get behind the wheel. Local first responders say they have been dispatched to several off-highway vehicle incidents across the county in recent months.
Why UTVs Can Be Deadly On Roads
Public health research has linked side-by-side UTVs to a growing number of serious injuries and deaths, with rollovers and ejections frequently cited in crash patterns. A 2025 peer-reviewed study of UTV crashes found that rollovers and collisions are often associated with the worst outcomes and emphasized that seat belts and other restraints play a critical role in preventing ejections and catastrophic injuries.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol typically withholds the names of crash victims until family members are notified and has not yet released the driver’s identity. Troop C continues to investigate and is asking anyone who saw the crash or has video of the incident to contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
