New Year’s Holiday 2026 Missouri Traffic Crashes

By The Cagle Law Firm | January 6, 2026 | Car Accidents, Featured

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol preliminary numbers, there were five (5) roadway fatalities during the holiday counting period.  The holiday counting period began Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 6 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2026.  However, these reported fatalities are from the MSHP alone and it does not include fatalities from municipalities.

Troopers investigated 187 traffic crashes resulting in five (5) fatalities and 187 people injured. As well, there were 112 drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated. Comparatively, the 2024-2025 same holiday period resulted in 265 traffic crashes with one fatality and 118 injuries.

Fatalities included two (2) pedestrian incidents and three victims fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes. All three of those killed in motor vehicle collisions were unrestrained and between the ages 21 and 26.  The first pedestrian fatality occurred on 12/30/25 in St. Louis County at I-70 westbound at MO 115.  The victim was a 40 year-old man listed from Topeka, Kansas.  The second pedestrian fatality occurred on New Year’s Day in the evening in Jackson County. A 17 year-old was struck on I-70 westbound at Mile Marker 18. The juvenile was listed from Oak Grove, Missouri.

On January 2, 2026, a two-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two women from St. Louis, Missouri. There were three other women seriously injured and one man listed as moderately injured. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on southbound MO 367, south of Chambers Road.

On January 3, a 21 year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 44 in Phelps County. The crash occurred a little after Midnight and occurred when the vehicle travelled off the left side of the roadway, struck a cable barrier, went airborne and struck a bridge support pillar. The online report stated the vehicle was fleeing law enforcement. The victim was a reported as an unrestrained driver of a 2017 Hyundai  from Allen, Texas.

Unrestrained Drivers Make Up Higher Percent of Fatality Crashes

In analyzing the fatality crash data of the MSHP dashboard  since January 9, 2025-January 3, 2026, one statistic continues on trend from year-to-year: unrestrained motorists face a much higher risk of fatalities.  The state of Missouri is divided into eight regions. There were a total of 605 roadway fatalities across those regions.

• Region A: including Jackson County had 82 fatalities, 43 %  were unrestrained;
• Region B: 29 fatalities, 62 % were unrestrained;
• Region C: including St Louis had 148 fatalities, 72% were unrestrained;
• Region D: including Greene County with 129 fatalities, 59% were unrestrained;
• Region E: including Cape Girardeau, 69 fatalities, 52% were unrestrained;
• Region F: including Boone County with 50 fatalities, 60 % were unrestrained;
• Region G:  36 fatalities, 78% were unrestrained;
• Region H: 30 fatalities, 67% were unrestrained;
• Region I: 30 fatalities, 67% were unrestrained.

Motorists in motor vehicle crashes are listed as restrained, unrestrained, unknown and exempt. The “unknown” and “exempt” classifications are relatively small percentages. These numbers are based on initial online reports and are subject to be updated later in official reports. However, even with some updates, the number of fatalities involving unrestrained motorists is profoundly high regardless of whether the crash occurs in a rural or metropolitan area. Missouri seat belt usage rates is around 88% compared to the national average of about 91%. While that may seem small to some, these represent preventable deaths.

Seat Belt Safety-Seat Belts Save Lives

A seat belt is crucial to surviving a crash. Will a seat belt protect you in every crash? Of course not. There are some crashes that are simply too violent for survival. However, on average 49% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2023 were unrestrained according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  According to experts, wearing a seat belt increases your chances of survival as a front seat passenger by 45 percent.  Those percentages are even higher if you are a back seat passenger and in a larger SUV or pick up.  FORTY-FIVE PERCENT.

Safety experts and medical experts all recommend that EVERY PERSON  in the population absolutely should wear a seat belt including all children and pregnant individuals.  According to Missouri law, all drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt.  As well, all minor children MUST be properly restrained based upon their size whether it is a seat belt, child safety seat or booster seat restraint.  It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that every passenger is restrained.  We do see serious crashes where minor children are unrestrained.  It is tragic and complicated.  Of course, the first serious consequence is injury or death of a child. The second consequence can involve fines or even possible criminal negligence. It is complicated because it is hard to comprehend the feelings a parent or caregiver has to have when their child is injured in a crash and unrestrained.  The feelings are overwhelming enough when a child is injured and restrained.

Simply, Buckle Up

Simply, whether you are traveling a few blocks, few miles of few hundred miles, always wear a seat belt.  A large percentage of crashes occur within 20 miles of your home.  So, when you are just running a quick errand, always wear a seat belt.

One of the most dangerous things we do as individuals on a daily basis is occupy a motor vehicle.  If we think too much about it, we hesitate to even get in a motor vehicle. If you live in Missouri, avoiding a motor vehicle is really not an option if you wish to ever leave your residence. There is very little mass transit available to Missourians thus, we must ride in motor vehicles.  While we do not like to think about the danger, we can take proactive measures to promote our individual and family safety by wearing a seat belt and driving cautiously.

Know the Steps After a Motor Vehicle Crash:

Since the statistics from the Insurance Information Institute say that we will be in approximately four crashes in our lifetimes, it is important to know what you will do after a crash.  Hopefully, any crashes will be property damage only crashes but you should know what to do.  Having a plan makes dealing with the incident a little less hectic, stressful and frantic.

1. Call the police.  Immediately call law enforcement for your safety and to protect yourself.  If your crash happens in busy traffic, you need law enforcement to prevent subsequent crashes. As well, you need law enforcement to document the crash.  Failure to call the police can result in loss of evidence and the other driver changing their story.  If you are in a crash and the other person does not have insurance, you will need to have an incident report to file with your own insurance company unless you can personally cover all of your property and medical costs before you even know that information.
2. Seek Medical Help.  If you have pain, do not ignore it.  In the first few hours after a crash, adrenaline can mask injuries. When you develop pain, seek medical expertise. Do not wait until the auto insurance company gives you “permission” or “accepts liability”. If you wait on an insurance carrier to seek medical help, you will wait weeks or months.  Get the help that you need and an attorney can help you sort through it later.  When you delay medical help, it hurts your physical recovery.  As well, failure to seek medical help can hurt your injury claim.  Ultimately, prioritize yourself and your physical well-being.
3. Call a Lawyer: Before you start talking to insurance companies, call a lawyer for free legal advice.  We offer free consultations seven days a week.

Why Call an Insurance Company Without Advice?

While you may think that your case is “cut and dry”, we will let you know that there is no such thing.  Most personal injury attorneys are happy to give you free legal advice and help you avoid some of the most common mistakes people can make after a car crash.  Most folks believe that is they are honest and forthright with the insurance carrier, then the adjuster will be fair with you.  We wish that were true.  In reality, you cannot always count on your own insurance carrier to look out for your best interest.

Our attorneys take calls seven days a week and offer free consultations.

Call us toll free 1.800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681

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