One person was killed Monday in a crash two miles north of Thayer, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
Msgt. Scott Nelson said a 2011 GMC Express van driven by Joshua M. Parker, 29, of Calico Road, Ark., was stopped in traffic to make a left turn on U.S. 63 and was struck from behind by a Thayer Police Department vehicle operated by Keith M. Price, 32, of Thayer.
The impact, Nelson said, caused the van into the southbound path of a 2016 Freightliner tractor trailer operated by Shaun T. Hendrix, 47, of West Plains. It caught on fire, authorities said.
Pronounced dead at the scene was Parker, who was not wearing a seat belt. Price had moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains. Hendrix had serious injuries and went to the West Plains hospital.
The roadway was closed for a stretch of time. Six other patrol officers assisted. All three vehicles were totaled.
It marked the 31st fatality in Troop G; compared to 27 at the same time in 2022.
The police have some serious explaining to do! That rear end collision cost that man his life and left a wife with two children without a husband and dad.