Month: June 2023

Four motorcycle riders have died in a crash on Highway 39 near Aurora over the weekend.

The Highway Patrol says there were 11 people involved in the wreck Saturday afternoon, including ten motorcuclists and the driver of a car. Troopers say the car crossed the center line and hit five motorcycles, then went off the road into a ditch.

Those who died are identified as a 17 year old grl, 28 year old Kameron Hale, 59 year old James Olmsted, and 61 year old Linda Anderson, all from Aurora.

The motorcyclists were thrown after their bikes flipped, with one of the motorcycles catching fire.

The driver of the car, who was arrested on suspicion of impairment, was also rushed to a hospital in Springfield with serious injuries.

Authorities in Greene County say a child is dead after being hit by a car near Springfield.

Highway Patrol Troopers were called to the area of Blackman Road near Fire Station 12 east of Springfield Sunday morning.

Witnesses told investigators a 43-year-old man was driving a minivan on private property just off the roadway and hit the boy.

Emergency services transported the boy to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, where he later pronounced dead.

The driver of the car was taken to an area hospital with undisclosed injuries and then taken into custody.

The driver was booked in the Greene County Jail on suspicion of DWI.

Investigators say the child and driver share the same last name, but details of their potential relationship have not been released.

A judge in Greene County is handing down a not guilty verdict in the case against a former Missouri State University professor accused of killing a colleague.

Edward Gutting was facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the dead of Marc Cooper, and the assault of Cooper’s wife in 2016.

Investigators say Gutting was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, while prosecutors argued that diagnosis had no bearing on his actions during the murder.

The judge ultimately found him not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

Gutting will be remanded to Department of Mental Health for an undetermined period of time.

A bear cub is dead after being hit by a car in southwest Springfield Thursday night.

Offiicials say the cub was seen several times in the city Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening before authorities were called to a scene on James River Freeway near Glenstone.

When they arrived, they found the bear cub dead in the road.

The Missouri Department of Conservation was alerted, and the eastbound off-ramp of the freeway was closed while the DOC cleared the scene.

The latest pool to open in the Ozarks is the Boswell Aquatic Center in Lebanon.

City Parks Director John Shelton says the pool opens Saturday. He says it is about time for a major renovation of the facility, with a zero entry and some other things to keep it updated.

Admission to the pool is four dollars for anyone above three years old.

The Springfield Greene County Health Department has launched an app to prevent drug overdose deaths.

The app is called Revive. It provides information on how to recognize the signs of an overdose, maps of where treatment services are available, and locations of drug disposal sites. The information is in English and Spanish.

Health Department officials say the death rate from drug overdoses is 25 percent higher in Greene, Christian, and Webster counties than the national average.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshall’s Service are assisting Barry County authorities in the search for the last of seven inmates who escaped from the county jail in Cassville after assaulting two correctional officers.

Sheriff Danny Boyd says the seven broke out of the lockup just before 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

About 15 minutes later, three of the inmates were back in custody.

Three other inmates, Derson Pelep, Rolondo Saldivar and Axel Agans, were re-captured early Friday morning.

The inmate who is still on the run is identified as Mario Che-Tiul, who was being held on molestation and incest charges.

The sheriff says the patrol is assisting in the search by using a helicopter. Authorities say the inmate is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

If you see him, you’re asked to call 911.

Two teenagers from Cassville have died in a motorcycle crash Wednesday night.

19 year old Rylan Wilson and a 14 year old boy were riding a motorcycle on Highway 248 when the motorcycle ran off the road.

Highway Patrol troopers say the vehicle hit an embankment, throwing both riders from the motorcycle.

The 14 year old was pronounced dead at the scene. Wilson died at a hospital in Springfield.

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure is set to deliver the annual State of the City Address at 7:30 Thursday morning at Evangel University’s Spence Chapel.

The address is part of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Good Morning Springfield program.

Watch live streaming coverage of the State of the City here at 7:30 a.m.