FISK, MO — A Poplar Bluff man was killed and a Poplar Bluff woman was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 60 in Butler County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 20, about two miles west of Fisk. Investigators said a 1998 GMC Sierra was traveling west when it left the right side of the road and hit a tree.
The 69-year-old driver suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at 3:07 p.m. at the scene. His 78-year-old passenger was taken by air ambulance to St. Louis University Hospital.
Pickup left the roadway and struck a tree west of Fisk
According to the Highway Patrol, the pickup was moving westbound on Highway 60 when it drifted off the right side of the pavement for reasons that have not been publicly detailed. Once it left the roadway, the vehicle struck a tree and was heavily damaged.
The crash involved only the single pickup. No other vehicles were listed as part of the collision, and the GMC Sierra was declared a total loss.
Barkers removed the vehicle from the scene after the crash. Officials have not said whether weather, speed, or a medical issue may have played a role in the vehicle leaving the highway.
Driver died at the scene and passenger was flown for care
The driver, a 69-year-old Poplar Bluff man, died from his injuries before emergency crews could transport him. The Highway Patrol said he was pronounced dead at 3:07 p.m., about 20 minutes after the wreck was reported.
The passenger, a 78-year-old Poplar Bluff woman, was seriously hurt in the crash. Air Evac transported her to St. Louis University Hospital, where she was expected to receive treatment for those injuries.
Neither person was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck, according to investigators. That detail is part of the patrol’s reconstruction of the crash and is one factor officials noted in their report.
Highway Patrol investigators were joined by several troopers and crash team personnel
The Missouri State Highway Patrol handled the investigation and received help from Sergeant B. L. Riefle, Trooper E. N. Stinson and crash team member Sergeant E. J. Ganime. Their work focused on documenting the scene and determining how the pickup left the roadway.
Traffic-crash investigations typically include measurements, vehicle inspection and scene analysis to piece together the sequence of events. In this case, troopers identified the westbound GMC Sierra as the only vehicle involved.
The patrol has not announced any charges or citations related to the wreck. At this stage, the crash remains an investigative matter for the agency.
The fatal wreck became Troop E’s 52nd traffic death investigation of 2026
The Highway Patrol said the wreck was the 52nd traffic fatality investigated by Troop E in 2026. That figure places the crash within a year that has already seen a substantial number of deadly collisions in the region.
Highway 60 is a major route through southeast Missouri, and the stretch near Fisk is part of a roadway network that carries local and through traffic across Butler County. Fatal wrecks on rural highways often draw a large emergency response because help can be farther away than in city settings.
In this case, the crash scene included air medical transport, a tow service and multiple patrol personnel working in coordination after the single-vehicle wreck.
What is known about the people involved and the vehicle
Authorities identified both occupants as Poplar Bluff residents. The driver was 69 years old, and the passenger was 78 years old, according to the patrol.
The vehicle was a 1998 GMC Sierra, a pickup that was traveling west on Highway 60 when the crash occurred. After the impact, the truck was badly damaged and could not be driven away from the scene.
For now, the Highway Patrol’s account is limited to the basic facts of the collision and the injuries it caused. Officials have not released any additional medical updates on the woman’s condition, and they have not said whether the investigation will lead to any further action.
