3 killed, 6 injured in wrong-way crash with possible intoxicated driver, MO cops say

Three people were killed and six more injured in crash involving a wrong-way driver suspected of being intoxicated, Missouri police say.

The crash happened around 1 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, on the James River Freeway in Springfield, according to police.

Police in Springfield said Steven Jordan, of Republic, Missouri, was driving a Dodge Ram the wrong way on the freeway. His truck crashed head-on into a Ford Expedition that was carrying eight people, all from Texas, police said.

Three passengers in the Expedition were killed in the crash. They were identified by Springfield police as Sharon Farmer, 69, of Pittsburg; Ukena Farmer, 45, of Dallas; and Stephen Figgins, 61, of Missouri City.

Police said three additional passengers were hospitalized. They were listed in critical but stable condition.

The 54-year-old driver of the Expedition and one other passenger had minor injuries, according to a police news release.

Jordan, the 65-year-old driver of the Ram, was also injured in the crash, police said. It’s unclear the severity of his injuries.

“Intoxication is believed to be a factor in this crash,” according to police. “The investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances involved in the crash.”

No charges have been filed as of Friday afternoon.

This story was originally published January 20, 2023 at 2:50 PM.