Steven Billingsley, Steven Wagoner Killed in Truck Accident in Dunklin County, MO
Dunklin County, MO -- February 14, 2023, Steven Billingsley and Steven Wagoner were killed after an accident with two semi-trucks.
Investigators said that the incident happened at around 1:16 p.m. along US 412 west of Senath.
Details from authorities said that 60-year-old Steven Billingsley was in a semi-truck going westbound along the highway. 63-year-old Steven Wagoner was in a semi traveling eastbound. Police believe that the truck driven by Wagoner drifted over the center line and crashed into Billingsley's truck.
Due to the collision, both Wagoner and Billinhsley sustained fatal injuries. Authorities have not released any further information about what led to the crash. Investigations are ongoing.
If anyone can understand why investigating a deadly truck wreck like this would be so complex, it would no doubt be the two truck drivers. Professional truckers understand better than anyone the challenges that come with such a demanding job. A lot can go wrong, and drivers don't always have the ability to avoid crashes like this. Tire blowouts, mechanical defects, cargo shifts, road hazards, medical emergencies—there are all sorts of things the general public may not even think to look at.
With that said, professional drivers also no doubt understand that mistakes can happen. That's why experienced accident reconstructionists familiar with commercial vehicle wrecks know to look for things like mechanical issues as much as they might check cell phone records or hours of service logs. My hope here is that authorities understand these challenges, as well, so they can ensure the families affected by this awful event at least know they're getting the full story, especially if all of this could have been avoided.
[jump]
