A former Houston businessman and Mountain Grove resident was killed Friday in a motorcycle accident in Springfield, police said.
Homer Wyatt, 72, and his son, Dick, were traveling eastbound on James River Expressway when the father was struck by a lowering railroad crossing, Springfield police said. The men were approaching the railroad crossing just west of U.S. 65, when the crossing arms began to lower for an oncoming train, police said.
Dick Wyatt noticed the arms begin to lower and slowed in time, but his father was struck and thrown from his motorcycle. Homer Wyatt was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident closed the eastbound traffic on James River Expressway for about three hours before it reopened at about 2:30 p.m.
Homer Wyatt sold the Century I Theatre and Sunset Drive-In in 1982 to Dr. and Mrs. Don Taylor after operating it for 11 years, according to the Herald’s digital archives. Wyatt later opened a bowling alley in Mountain Grove.
Mr. Wyatt’s obituary appears in today’s newspaper.