A Steelville man lost his life Friday as a result of a single vehicle crash that occurred 16 miles north of Salem on Highway 19, according to an online report of Troop I of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
James D. Whitman, 56, was declared dead at 7:33 a.m. Friday by Dent County Coroner Gina White. His remains were transported to the Dent County Coroner's Office.
Whitman was southbound at 6:20 a.m. Friday operating a 1992 Ford LTL 9000 Dump Truck when it travelled off the right side of the roadway, returned to the road, began to slide, travelled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment and ejected Whitman. The report states he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Ford sustained total damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.
The incident is Troop I’s first fatality of the month and third for 2019. The highway patrol was assisted on the call by the Dent County Fire Protection District, Steelville Fire Department, Dent County Sheriff's Office, Crawford County Sheriff's Office and Salem EMS.