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Former Local Resident Killed in Crash

By Brian Hagen

02/06/2012

Joseph Richard, Jr.

A former resident of the local area is dead, killed Friday in a fiery crash.

Joseph Richard, Jr. was driving a tractor trailer early Friday morning when he collided with another tractor trailer near the Winston, Missouri exit on Interstate 35, north of Cameron.

Richard was 50-years-old.

Richard lived in both Brown and Doniphan Counties at various times in his life, having joined the Kansas National Guard at Horton, prior to joining the United States Army in the late 70's.

For over 15 years, he worked as an over the road truck driver.

Richard was currently a resident of Rising Fawn, Georgia.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash left I-35, in Davies County, closed for nine hours Friday.

It happened just minutes after 1:00 in the morning, when Richard's northbound Freightliner crossed the median and smashed, head-on, into a southbound semi.

Both trucks caught fire, as 600 gallons of fuel spilled along the roadway.

A 58-year-old passenger in Richard's truck was flown to the University of Kansas Hospital with serious injuries. He is identified as a resident of Tennessee.

The Wisconsin man behind the wheel of the southbound semi was taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries.