Carthage, Mo. — A tragic crash in Carthage has left 76-year-old Gale Wade dead and his wife critically injured after a suspected drunk driver ran a stop sign on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of Oak and McGregor.
According to local authorities, Mark Mendez-Hernandez, a repeat DWI offender, was driving a black pickup truck southbound on McGregor when he failed to stop at a stop sign. His truck struck an eastbound SUV carrying the Wades, pushing their vehicle into a gray pickup truck waiting at the northbound stop sign. Gale Wade was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife was airlifted to a Springfield hospital with severe injuries.
Mendez-Hernandez attempted to flee on foot, but local citizens followed him for several blocks, assisting police in locating and arresting him. He is currently being held on pending charges of driving while intoxicated involving death, manslaughter, and potentially additional charges. Formal charges have not yet been filed.
The crash prompted a five-hour closure of the intersection as the state crash reconstruction team conducted its investigation. Authorities continue to gather evidence to determine the full circumstances surrounding the collision.
This devastating incident has left the Carthage community in shock, highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence and the importance of community vigilance in assisting law enforcement.
Leave a Reply