Tower Down - 10.07.21 (MO)

[TowNews]

Tow truck driver killed in crash while hauling a vehicle in McDonald County, Mo.

 

The driver, of Monett, Missouri, owned and operated Autorama.

 

McDONALD COUNTY, Mo. — Missouri State Highway Patrol release information regarding a fatal tow truck crash. The crash was located along Route C, east of Goodman and occurred Thursday evening, October 7, just before 6 p.m.

Brandon Wellbaum, 48, of Monett, was driving a 2000 GMC C6500 tow truck hauling a 2003 Honda Element. He was traveling east, approaching McNatt at Elkhorn Creek. 

“Crash occurred as [tow truck] traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned.” — Cpl. C.C. Clark, Troop D 

INITIAL REPORT FROM MSHP.

Wellbaum was pronounced at the scene by McDonald County Deputy Coroner Ashley Howard. 

He was wearing his seat belt. The crashed vehicles were removed by Metro Towing.

Wellbaum owned and operated Autorama, near Monett. Read more in his life story here.

RESOURCE LINK

[TowNews]

Monett man dies in tow truck crash

A Monett man died in a single-vehicle accident at 5:51 p.m. Thursday on Route C, about 5 miles east of Goodman in McDonald County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

 

Brandon E. Wellbaum, 48, was driving an eastbound tow truck that was hauling a car when the truck ran off the road and overturned, the state patrol said.

 

A McDonald County deputy coroner pronounced Wellbaum dead at the scene.

 

• A Cassville man was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 10:45 p.m. Thursday on Missouri Highway 248, about 3 miles west of Jenkins in Barry County, the state patrol said.

 

Mark A Goade, 56, was taken to Mercy Hospital Cassville with minor injuries.

 

Goade was driving an eastbound vehicle that collided with a southbound vehicle driven by Thaddaeus E. Harris, 24, of Cassville, when Harris pulled into the path of Goade's vehicle, the patrol said.

 

• A Neosho man was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 2:55 p.m. Thursday on Howard Bush Drive in Neosho, the state patrol said.

Truman D. Roponei, 45, was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital Joplin with moderate injuries.

 

Roponei was driving a southbound car that ran off the road and overturned as he was attempting a right turn, the patrol said.

 

Resource Link - https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/crime_and_courts/monett-man-dies-in-tow-truck-crash/article_ce3eb824-2882-11ec-967f-0f08df4774a7.html