Marcus Nelson Killed in Three-Vehicle Crash on Hwy 148 in Nodaway County, MO
Nodaway County, MO — November 22, 2022, 75-year-old Marcus Nelson died and 67-year-old Glenda Wyer-Nelson was injured in a three-vehicle crash in Nodaway County.
Authorities say the incident happened Tuesday afternoon along Highway 148, roughly half a mile south of Hopkins. Preliminary investigation suggests the victims were headed north on the highway when a car ahead of them slowed for a farm implement ahead. Driver Marcus Nelson slowed his SUV in response, but a Peterbilt semi-truck behind him rear-ended the SUV and pushed it into the car. After the impact the SUV ran off the road and came to rest in a nearby yard.
Marcus Nelson and his passenger Glenda Wyer-Nelson were taken to a Maryville hospital where Marcus Nelson died a short time later. The truck and car drivers were unhurt. Investigators say all parties were wearing seat belts.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Marcus Nelson Accident in Nodaway County
Crashes like this are often far more complex than they first seem. People read that a big rig crashed into an SUV ahead of it and many would conclude pretty quickly that the truck driver simply did something wrong. Statistically speaking that's probably the most likely explanation, but it can't be taken for granted.
For one thing, automatically blaming the truck driver ignores the possibility--however slim--that something unusual or unpredictable led to the crash. Defective parts, bad roads, and medical emergencies aren't nearly as common as inattention or speeding, but they're far from impossible. Moreover, failing to look into those other possibilities means not having the evidence to refute the company down the line when it tries to lay the blame on a scapegoat instead of its employee.
That's why it's important to look into all possible factors after a crash like this. Jumping to conclusions can only make things worse by falsely accusing someone or overlooking important details. The best thing for everyone in a situation like this is to withhold judgment until independent accident reconstructionists have done a thorough investigation into the wreck's circumstances and its true cause. That will find the evidence the victims and their family need to seek the justice they deserve.
