A 30-year-old woman was killed and three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were seriously injured Friday in a violent head-on collision on Missouri Route 8 in Washington County. The crash happened east of Ottertail Road and shut down the highway as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Troopers said the injured were taken to area hospitals, and the roadway was closed for investigation and cleanup.
Crash details from state troopers
According to First Alert 4, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the wreck happened around 5:07 p.m. when a Dodge Ram and a Volkswagen Jetta collided head-on on Route 8 east of Ottertail Road. The driver of the Jetta, identified as a 30-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ram’s driver, a 21-year-old man, along with a 20-year-old female passenger and a 10-year-old girl passenger, were all taken to hospitals with serious injuries, according to the patrol.
Statewide crash trends
Rural two-lane highways like Route 8 are often where Missouri sees some of its most severe crashes, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol recently documented a spike in deadly wrecks over the Memorial Day holiday. The patrol reported eight traffic deaths over the Memorial Day weekend earlier this month, a number local stations say underscores the safety risks on rural roads, according to KCTV5. Officials routinely urge drivers to slow down and use seat belts on these stretches to help reduce the severity of crashes.
Investigation underway
Troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol were investigating the collision and said an official crash report will be released after the agency completes its review, officials told First Alert 4. Road closures were lifted after crews cleared the scene, and authorities had not released the victims’ names pending notification of family members.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. This story will be updated as officials release additional details.
