Two St. Joseph Residents Injured in Highway 36 Crash East of City

Two St. Joseph residents were taken to the hospital Monday evening after a crash involving two vehicles on U.S. Highway 36 near the Highway 31 interchange in Buchanan County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened at approximately 5:27 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, about 6.5 miles east of St. Joseph.

Investigators say a 2022 Ford F-150 was traveling eastbound on Highway 36 when it approached a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe that was stopped in the eastbound lanes with its emergency flashers activated. The patrol reported that the driver of the pickup failed to slow down or move over and struck the rear of the Tahoe.

After the impact, the Ford F-150 left the roadway, traveling off the north side of Highway 36 before coming to rest partially on the shoulder. The Chevrolet Tahoe was pushed forward by the collision and came to a stop in the passing lane.

The driver of the Ford, a 24-year-old St. Joseph man, suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Tahoe, a 30-year-old St. Joseph woman, also sustained minor injuries. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and were transported by Buchanan County EMS to Mosaic Life Care for treatment.

Authorities said both vehicles were considered total losses. The Ford F-150 was removed from the scene by Blue Knight Towing, while Randy's Towing removed the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the crash with assistance from additional troopers and Buchanan County emergency responders.

A Reminder About Missouri's Move Over Law

The crash serves as another reminder of the importance of Missouri's Move Over Law, which requires drivers to either move into the next lane when approaching stopped emergency or service vehicles with flashing lights, or slow down significantly if changing lanes cannot be done safely.

Failing to move over or reduce speed not only puts stranded motorists and first responders at risk but can also lead to serious crashes like Monday's incident.

Fortunately, both drivers escaped with only minor injuries despite both vehicles being totaled.