Willard Resident Leah Hyde, 24, Dies After Exiting Vehicle Following Median Strike on James River Expressway
A 24-year-old Willard woman died Tuesday afternoon after exiting her vehicle following a crash on James River Expressway in Springfield, marking the eighth fatal motor vehicle crash in the city this year.
Springfield police responded to the westbound lanes in the 800 block of West James River Expressway, just east of Campbell Avenue, at 1:23 p.m. on June 2.
Leah Hyde had been driving west in the inside lane when her 2015 Subaru Forester struck the concrete median divider and came to a stop in the far inside lane.
After the initial collision, Hyde got out of the driver’s side door of her vehicle. Sheri Jones, 25, who was also traveling westbound, attempted to steer around Hyde’s stopped car by passing on the left when she struck Hyde. Hyde was pronounced dead at the scene, and her family was notified by police.
The Springfield Police Department confirmed the incident remains under investigation and is asking anyone with information to call 417-864-1810 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS or online at p3tips.com.
What Drivers Should Do When a Crash Happens on a Busy Highway
The tragedy has prompted local safety experts to remind drivers of what to do in similar situations, particularly on high-speed roads where stopping can create new dangers.
Todd Vermillion, a retired Missouri State Trooper and instructor at Premier Driving, says the first thing any driver needs to do after a crash is stay calm. Panic leads to poor decisions, and in a fast-moving traffic environment, poor decisions can be fatal.
Vermillion advises drivers to immediately turn on their hazard lights and call 911. If the vehicle can be moved, getting it off the road entirely is the safest option. But if the car is disabled in a travel lane or on a narrow shoulder, staying inside with the seatbelt fastened is far safer than stepping out.
The instinct to get out and assess damage or check on others is understandable but dangerous. Drivers and passengers who exit onto a busy roadway put themselves directly in the path of oncoming traffic that may not see them in time to stop or swerve.
Bob Patterson, director of EMS for Mercy Hospital and a veteran of more than 40 years in emergency medicine, echoed that message.
When bystanders stop to help, they can unintentionally block lanes and create the conditions for a second crash. Patterson says anyone who does stop should get completely clear of traffic immediately and leave enough room for fire trucks, ambulances, and law enforcement to access the scene.
Dispatchers rely on callers to describe exactly what they are seeing so that first responders arrive prepared. Details such as how many vehicles are involved, whether anyone is injured, and where the crash sits on the road all help emergency crews respond more effectively.
A Troubling Year on Springfield Roads
Hyde’s death brings the total number of fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in Springfield to nine so far in 2026, across eight separate incidents.
The stretch of the James River Expressway where the crash occurred is a heavily traveled corridor and has seen a number of serious collisions over the years.
Safety advocates continue to stress that highway driving demands sustained attention. Keeping eyes well ahead, avoiding distractions, and knowing how to respond in an emergency can make the difference between a survivable crash and a fatal one.
Hyde’s death is a painful reminder that the moments immediately after a collision can be just as dangerous as the collision itself.
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