Missouri news organizations sue MSHP for access to names of those involved in crashes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several media companies and associations have sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol to restore access to the names of those involved in crashes.

The Missouri Broadcasters Association, Missouri Press Association, Gray Local Media, Warden Public Company and editor Roxie Murphy are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit against MSHP. ABC 17 News is a member of the MBA.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday in Cole County. A summons was issued for the Patrol on Monday.

MSHP provides crash reports on its website and has previously included the names of those involved in crashes, which the lawsuit states had occurred for nearly 30 years.

Beginning on Nov. 1, 2024, MSHP stopped publishing names in its preliminary online traffic crash and boating/drowning reports after it was “notified of scam incidents across the state” that targeted crash victims or people who know someone involved in a crash, previous reporting shows. Other law enforcement agencies around the state, including the Columbia Police Department, have followed suit after MSHP’s decision.

“Crash reports help communities learn who was hurt or killed, let families and neighbors get accurate information, and help the public spot dangerous roads and intersections,” a joint press release from the plaintiffs released on Monday says. “Journalists have long used unredacted reports to verify the identities of people who died on Missouri roads and to report on public safety and vehicle safety. Without them, it is far harder to hold public agencies accountable or to tell Missourians what is happening in their own communities.”

The release and petition say “Under the Missouri Sunshine Law, the state’s open records law, these incident reports ‘shall be open records.’”

The petition states multiple crash and boating reports requested by media members were still redacted. The lawsuit accuses MSHP of violating Missouri’s Sunshine Law.