1 dead in Highway 63 crash involving ambulance
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
One person is dead and others are injured after a crash Wednesday on Highway 63 near Sturgeon.
According to the crash report, the accident happened at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of McComas Road and Highway 63.
A North Village Park van, driven by an 81-year-old Moberly man, made an improper left turn to enter the southbound lanes. A Linn County ambulance attempted to avoid hitting the van by changing lanes, but hit the van’s left side.
The 81-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 56-year-old ambulance driver from Brunswick, the 60-year-old passenger from Bevier and an 85-year-old patient from Marceline in the ambulance suffered moderate to minor injuries and were transported to University Hospital by ambulance.
The Linn County ambulance district confirmed in a Facebook post that one of its vehicles was involved in the crash. North Village Park is an organization based in Moberly that provides services for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
This is MSHP Troop F’s fifth fatality in April and 16th this year.
According to MoDOT, U.S. Route 63 at Route CC/Roy Barnes Road and Crofton Hall Road, both in northern Boone County, near Sturgeon, had experienced 14 crashes over the past five years, resulting in one fatality and four serious injuries.
Plans to add acceleration and deceleration lanes on southbound U.S. 63 to improve safety are currently in the planning and design phase.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Kyle Green confirmed to ABC 17 News that one person died in the crash. A post on Troop F’s X account said next of kin has been notified.
Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 5:46 p.m. stating that a vehicle crash occurred on northbound Highway 63 near East McComas Road.
Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in a text message that the crash involved a van and a Linn County Ambulance. He said CPR was in process at the scene and that four patients were reported.