Kirksville, MO — March 14, 2024, Ethan Beeson was injured in a truck accident at about 6:15 a.m. on U.S. Route 63.
Authorities said a pickup was headed east on State Route 11 when it was hit by a semi-truck while crossing U.S. 63.
Pickup passenger Ethan Beeson, 29, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities, while driver Jason Thibodeaux, 29, was treated and released after being transported to a local hospital.
The truck driver was not injured.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Adair County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes at highway intersections involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about right-of-way, visibility and whether all drivers had enough time to react safely. In this case, reports indicate that a pickup truck was crossing U.S. Route 63 from State Route 11 when it was struck by a semi-truck, resulting in serious injuries to a passenger. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, poor intersection design or another contributing factor.
One of the most important questions investigators should answer is whether the pickup had a stop sign or traffic signal controlling its entry onto the highway. Did the driver misjudge the speed of the approaching semi-truck, or did the truck have the right-of-way? Reviewing surveillance footage, dashcam recordings and witness statements will be critical in understanding how the vehicles entered the intersection.
Another key factor is whether visibility played a role. Intersections at rural highways can have limited sightlines due to trees, hills or other obstructions. If the pickup driver could not see the oncoming truck in time, that could have contributed to the crash. Investigators should examine whether additional safety measures, such as better lighting or clearer signage, could have reduced the risk of this collision.
Speed is also a critical issue. Trucks take much longer to stop than passenger vehicles, and if the semi-truck was traveling at highway speeds, the driver may not have had enough time to avoid the pickup. Investigators should review black box data from the truck to determine its speed and braking activity before impact.
At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the vehicles entered the intersection at the same time — whether due to driver misjudgment, poor visibility or road design — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong and whether safety improvements are needed at this intersection.
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