A 49-year-old Springfield man was killed last Wednesday evening when his SUV crossed the center line on Highway 5 in Laclede County and slammed head-on into a semi-truck, ejecting him from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later at a hospital in Lebanon, while the truck driver was transported to Mercy Hospital with minor injuries.
The crash happened around 7:59 p.m. on September 16, just north of Greenfield Road, according to ozarksfirst.com. The Springfield man was driving a 2021 Kia Sorento south when it crossed the center of the road and collided with a northbound Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck, the outlet reported, citing the Missouri State Highway Patrol. KRCG similarly reported that just before 8 p.m., the Kia crossed the center of the roadway and struck the Freightliner head-on.
The Springfield driver was ejected from his SUV in the crash. He was taken to Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, where he was pronounced dead at 8:44 p.m., per the same account. The report also notes he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
Truck Driver Treated for Minor Injuries
The semi-truck driver, a 58-year-old man from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, suffered minor injuries in the crash and was also taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment, the report states. No further details on his condition were provided.
The crash marked a grim statistical milestone for the region. It was Troop I's first traffic fatality in September and its 31st traffic fatality of 2026, according to kttn.com.
