Woman from Illinois dies after car goes out of control, hits house

A woman from Illinois died in a Christmas Eve accident when the car she was riding in went out of control and hit a house on Route H near the south Freistatt city limits.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says 70-year-old Mary L. Smith of Dupo, Illinois died when a car driven by 75-year old Irvin T. Smith, also of Dupo, failed to negotiate a curve, went off the road and hit the house – which was abandoned.

The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lawrence County Coroner.

Irvin Smith suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a Joplin hospital.

It was Highway Patrol Troop D’s 142nd fatality crash of 2023.