A Thursday morning drive in Franklin County ended in tragedy when a 36-year-old man from Union, Missouri, died after his car left the roadway and struck a tree. Emergency crews rushed the driver to Mercy Hospital Washington, where he was pronounced dead, and state troopers are now piecing together what led to the single-vehicle crash. The stretch of eastbound Missouri Route V just east of Platte Road, where the collision happened, was briefly closed as crews worked the scene.
State troopers' account
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala failed to negotiate a curve at about 10:47 a.m. The car ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected, then veered off the left side and hit a tree.
Troop C's crash report lists the driver as a 36-year-old male from Union who was transported to Mercy Hospital Washington by the Union Ambulance District and pronounced dead at 11:32 a.m. by a hospital physician. The report also notes that the driver was not using a safety device at the time of the collision.
Local reporting
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a brief on the wreck that matches the Highway Patrol's description of the crash and confirms the victim's hometown as Union. Citing troopers, the outlet reported that investigators are continuing to examine what caused the driver to lose control.
What to know
Troopers did not list any charges in the patrol's online report, and the investigation remains active with the Highway Patrol as the primary agency. Per the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the driver was not wearing a seat belt when the vehicle struck the tree.
Drivers using Missouri Route V near Platte Road may encounter delays if crews are still wrapping up work at the scene.
