The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a fatal drowning incident in Butler County on the St. Francis River at Fisk. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 2nd, at 4:00pm, as a 2 year old male juvenile from Elsinore, MO, fell into the water and swept downstream.
The juvenile was pronounced at the scene by Butler County Coroner Jim Akers. This is Troop E drowning fatality #1 for 2026.
On Saturday, May 2nd, at 4:39pm, the MSHP responded to a two vehicle accident in Stoddard County, that resulted in one fatality. The crash occurred on US-60 Eastbound at Route FF, one north of Essex, when a Polaris 1000 ATV, driven by a 53 year old male from Essex, failed to yield and struck a 2013 Toyota Highlander, driven by a 75 year old female from Cartersville, GA.
The driver of the Toyota Highlander suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The driver of the Polaris 1000 sustained fatal injuries in the accident and was pronounced at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Brent Stidham. This is Troop E Fatality #14 for 2026.