California Woman Dies After Minivan Enters Westbound I-44 Near St. James

A California woman was killed early Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash after traveling into the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 in Phelps County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred at 1:23 a.m. on July 3 at the 190.6-mile marker of I-44. According to the patrol, a 2010 Honda Odyssey failed to stop at a stop sign on the outer road before traveling into the westbound lanes of I-44.

The Honda was then struck by a westbound 2021 Freightliner Cascadia. The driver of the Honda, a 29-year-old woman from Pacifica, Calif., was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:59 a.m. by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdell. 

The Freightliner driver was a 37-year-old El Paso, Texas, man. He was uninjured.

Troop I said it's the second fatality for July and 15th fatality of 2026.