A 79-year-old Forsyth man is dead after the vehicle he was driving left Mt. Vernon Boulevard, crossed Highway Y, cut through a parking area at Empire Park, and plunged into Lake Taneycomo on Tuesday afternoon, according to New Country 102.9. Emergency personnel pulled the driver from the submerged car and rushed him to Cox Medical Center Branson, where he was pronounced dead.
The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which said the man had been driving south on Mt. Vernon Boulevard before his vehicle continued off the road and into the lake. He was pronounced dead at 3:48 p.m. by Dr. Jacob Roberts, as reported by KTTN, with Trooper F.R. Jones listed as the investigating officer and Sergeant R.R. Wilkins and Trooper C.B. Henderson listed as assisting officers.
The body of water was identified as Lake Taneycomo.
A Waterfront Park Turned Crash Site
Empire Park is along Lake Taneycomo.
Lake Taneycomo was the body of water involved in the crash.
Regional Traffic Toll Climbs
Cox Medical Center Branson, where the driver was taken, was identified as the receiving hospital. The crash falls under the jurisdiction of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D.
Tuesday's death marked Troop D's 78th traffic fatality of 2026.
Investigators have not said what caused Tuesday's vehicle to leave the roadway, and Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports typically do not resolve underlying medical or mechanical questions at the scene.
