Woman from Illinois dies after car goes out of control, hits house
By Steve Smith •
Published
• Updated
A woman from Illinois died in a Christmas Eve accident when the car she was riding in went out of control and hit a house on Route H near the south Freistatt city limits.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says 70-year-old Mary L. Smith of Dupo, Illinois died when a car driven by 75-year old Irvin T. Smith, also of Dupo, failed to negotiate a curve, went off the road and hit the house - which was abandoned.
The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lawrence County Coroner.
Irvin Smith suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a Joplin hospital.
It was Highway Patrol Troop D's 142nd fatality crash of 2023.
