Barton County, MO — February 21, 2025, Joshua Wright and one other person were killed in a truck accident at about 10:15 a.m. on State Route 43 southwest of Lamar.
Authorities said a southbound 2016 Kenworth semi-truck apparently crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a 2021 Freightliner box truck that was headed the opposite direction southwest of Lamar.
Both drivers died in the crash, according to authorities.
The Freightliner, a Federal Express delivery truck that caught fire after the crash, was driven by Joshua Wright, 45, of Joplin, authorities said.
The Kenworth was driven by a Leigh Clayton, 61, of Knob Knoster, MO. The truck was pulling an empty flatbed., according to media reports.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Barton County crash. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
The most important question in this crash — one that hasn’t been answered yet — is why the Kenworth truck crossed the center line in the first place. That may seem like a small detail, but it’s the key to understanding who should be held accountable.
Some might assume this was simply driver error, and that may turn out to be the case. But I’ve litigated enough commercial truck accident cases to know there are usually multiple factors at play. When a truck veers into oncoming traffic, it could be due to distracted driving or fatigue. But mechanical issues, improper maintenance or company policies that pressure drivers into unsafe behaviors are also possibilities. A proper investigation has to go beyond the crash scene to find out.
One of the first things investigators should check is what technology was in use at the time of the crash. Did the Kenworth truck have an in-cab camera? If so, that footage could show whether the driver was distracted or experienced a medical issue. What about the truck’s black box? It might provide critical information, like whether the driver braked or tried to correct the vehicle’s path before the crash.
Beyond that, investigators need to look at the trucking company’s role. Was the driver properly trained? Did the company enforce policies that encouraged unsafe driving, like tight delivery schedules that forced drivers to push through fatigue? Was the truck properly maintained, or did a mechanical failure contribute to the crash?
The fact that the Freightliner caught fire after the crash raises another concern: Was the fire unavoidable due to the severity of the crash, or was it made worse by a vehicle defect? In my experience, people assume that fire in a collision is just bad luck, but that’s not always true. Some vehicles have design flaws that make them more prone to catching fire. If the Freightliner had a poorly protected fuel system or another mechanical issue that made the fire worse, that’s something that needs to be investigated.
It’s too early to say exactly what happened here, but I do know this: If investigators don’t go beyond the crash scene, they’re only getting part of the story. And when that happens, there’s a real risk that the people responsible for this wreck — whoever they are — may never be held accountable.
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