A St. Louis truck driver was arrested on felony charges of manslaughter and assault after an accident Monday morning northwest of Houston claimed an 80-year-old Bucyrus man and seriously injured a passenger, according to information released Monday evening.
Troopers said the southbound driver of a 2014 Dodge Journey, Lonnie L. Huff, was killed after a 2021 International box truck failed to stop in a MoDOT construction zone and struck the SUV in the rear. The passenger vehicle was stopped at the time of collision, the state patrol said.
The 10:20 a.m. accident sent first responders from several agencies to just north of the Dogs Bluff Bridge about five miles northwest of Houston. Members of a rescue squad with the Houston Rural Fire Department used extrication tools to free the woman from the vehicle. She was flown from the scene with serious injuries to Cox South in Springfield.
Mr. Huff was pronounced deceased at the scene by Texas County Deputy Coroner Rowdy Douglas. The body was released to Evans Funeral Home in Houston.
The truck driver, William R. White, 41, was taken with minor injuries by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital. He was arrested about an hour later on charges of felony DWI – manslaughter, felony DWI assault and felony assault of a public servant involved in the accident response. White is held in the Texas County Jail. Formal charges are expected Tuesday by the office of Texas County Prosecutor Parke Stevens Jr.
It was the 16th fatality this year in Troop G, compared to 10 at the same time in 2024.
Members of the Houston Rural Fire Department left the scene at about 2:30 p.m. Both vehicles were totaled, and all three in the accident were wearing seat belts.
Tpr. Zayne Tate was assisted by Tpr. Chad Johnson, the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and a patrol major crash team.
More details are expected Tuesday (June 17) in a Texas County Associate Circuit Court filing.
