Crashes frequent on stretch of Highway 124 in Boone County

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

At least three people have been killed since January 2021 on Highway 124 between Fayette and Highway 63, the highway where four people were hurt in a crash Tuesday.

At least 10 people were hurt in five rollover crashes on the stretch of highway during the same time period, according to the highway patrol. Three people have been killed in two crashes on Highway 124 in Boone County since the start of this year.

Previous coverage

• Hallsville teen killed Wednesday in crash on Highway 124
• Troopers identify two people killed in Howard County crash

Troopers responded Tuesday night to a head-on crash on Highway 124 west of Route NN.

Chandler Cooke, 19, of Harrisburg, hit a car head-on when he tried to pass another vehicle while going over a hill, according to the crash report. Emergency crews took Cooke, Krystal G. Smith, 29, of Fayette, a 1-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl to University Hospital in Columbia.

MU Health Care said Thursday morning that Cooke was in fair condition and Smith was in serious condition.

Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said "over-the-hill" crashes are common around narrow roads with little to no shoulder.

"So we're very used to traveling on those roads, but not everybody is and we're talking about maybe an inexperienced driver as far as the 19-year-old involved in last night's crash," Blomenkamp said on Wednesday. "You know it comes down to distracted driving and just traveling too fast for these kinds of roads."

Although Highway 124 can be tricky to navigate, Blomenkamp said he hasn't noticed an uptick in crashes on the highway.

"It's not uncommon to have crashes on Highway 124 West so, there is no more there than there is anywhere else," said Blomenkamp.