One week, two fatality crashes in Lawrence County

A Mt. Vernon man, 36, is dead following a crash on June 5. The crash involved two vehicles with the other driver, from Greenfield, sustaining serious injuries. 

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol database, the crash occurred about 1:55 a.m. on Highway 39, one mile south of Miller. The Mt. Vernon man, driving a 2017 GMC Terrain, crossed the center line driving northbound on the Lawrence County Highway, colliding with the second vehicle, a 2024 Toyota Corolla, head on.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene at about 2 a.m., he was taken to Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City shortly after. The second driver was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. 

Both vehicles were totaled as a result of the incident and were towed by Stop and Shop Towing. 

This accident marks Springfield Troop D’s 54th fatality for the year. 

Second crash

A second fatal crash occurred in Lawrence County last week as a Carl Junction man was killed as the result of a collision with a guardrail on I-44.

The crash took place about six miles west of Mt. Vernon on June 3. At about 11:25 a.m., a 57-year-old man traveled off the roadway heading eastbound and struck the guardrail, following this, he returned to the road and was struck by a 2025 Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck. 

The man was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 11:49 a.m. and was then transported to Lakin Funeral Home. It was unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The second driver sustained no injuries. 

The 57-year-old’s vehicle was left totaled, while the semi-truck sustained moderate damage. This accident marked Troop D’s 53rd fatality of 2026.