WASHINGTON, MO — A St. Charles man was killed and three other people were hurt in a four-vehicle crash Friday evening in Washington County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Investigators say the wreck unfolded around 5:30 p.m. on Missouri Route 185, north of Hamilton Hollow Road. The patrol said the collision involved four vehicles and left one 60-year-old man dead from his injuries. MSHP did not release his name.
The crash also injured a 30-year-old woman from St. Charles, a 31-year-old man from Potosi, and a 7-year-old from Potosi.
How the collision began on Missouri Route 185
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the 60-year-old man was driving southbound on Route 185. The 31-year-old man was traveling northbound behind another vehicle.
The report says the northbound driver moved into the southbound lane in an attempt to pass the vehicle ahead of him. During that maneuver, his vehicle struck the southbound car driven by the 60-year-old man.
That impact set off a chain reaction that involved multiple vehicles and scattered debris across the roadway.
Chain reaction damage spread to two more vehicles
After the first collision, the force of the crash pushed two of the vehicles off the roadway, according to the patrol. Debris from the impact also hit the vehicle the 31-year-old driver had been trying to pass.
A fourth vehicle then struck the vehicle that had already been hit by debris. The report says that happened after the driver of the fourth vehicle failed to see it in time.
In all, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said four vehicles were involved in the wreck. The details point to a fast-developing collision sequence that unfolded in just moments on a two-lane stretch of highway.
Victims transported from the scene with varying injuries
Three people from the first two vehicles that collided were taken to a hospital with injuries, the patrol said. That group included the 30-year-old woman from St. Charles and the two Potosi residents, the 31-year-old man and the 7-year-old child.
The 60-year-old driver from St. Charles also was among those hurt in the initial crash, but he later died from his injuries. The Highway Patrol did not provide details about the severity of the other injuries or the hospital where they were treated.
MSHP also has not publicly identified the woman or the two Potosi residents beyond their ages and hometowns.
Missouri State Highway Patrol is continuing the investigation
Troop C of the Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation. Troop C covers much of the St. Louis region, including the area where the crash occurred.
Authorities have not said whether anyone may face citations or other charges. The patrol’s crash report outlines the sequence of events, but investigators have not released any additional findings about speed, road conditions, or possible contributing factors.
For now, the case remains under investigation as troopers piece together how the passing attempt led to the deadly crash and the injuries that followed.
Washington County crash adds to concerns on rural highways
The collision happened on a rural Missouri highway where passing in the wrong place or at the wrong time can quickly create danger for drivers traveling in both directions. Route 185 north of Hamilton Hollow Road became the site of a deadly crash after one vehicle crossed into the opposing lane.
While the patrol has not released further conclusions, the report shows how one passing maneuver can trigger multiple impacts in a short span. The result in this case was one death, three injuries, and a roadway left with debris and damaged vehicles.
MSHP has not said when its investigation will be completed.
