A 78-year-old Columbia man was killed Wednesday afternoon after a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 63 in Boone County.
The crash occurred around 3:05 p.m. on May 21, 2026, on northbound U.S. 63, about one mile south of Calvert Hill. Initial reporting states that a 1996 Saturn SL2 entered Highway 63 from a private drive and crossed into the path of a northbound 2011 Toyota Prius. The Toyota then struck the driver’s side of the Saturn.
The driver of the Saturn, a 78-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries. The driver of the Toyota, a 78-year-old woman, suffered moderate injuries, and her 75-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries. Both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Both vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene. The Toyota driver and passenger were wearing safety devices, while the Saturn driver’s safety device use is unknown.
Crashes involving vehicles entering a highway from a private drive can be extremely dangerous because highway traffic often has limited time to react. The facts reported here are serious: one vehicle entered U.S. 63 and crossed into the path of another vehicle already traveling northbound. That kind of movement into active traffic can create a sudden and unavoidable hazard for other drivers.
Drivers have a responsibility to make sure it is safe before entering a highway or crossing traffic. Conduct that places a vehicle directly in the path of oncoming traffic is the type of dangerous roadway behavior that can lead to fatal consequences and should be prevented.
All facts reported upon are based on preliminary investigation done by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
