(KTTS News) — A man from Republic is dead after a crash in Springfield.
Police say Sterling Garton, 88, died Monday when he ran a red light at Sunshine and James River Freeway.
His pickup hit an SUV, then went across the median and hit a trailer.
Press Release
On Sept. 4, 2023, at 10:52 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of James River Expressway and Sunshine Street.
Sterling Garton, 88, from Republic, was driving at 2005 Ford F-150 east on Sunshine Street, approaching the intersection at James River Expressway. Ashley Plunkett, 29, from Republic, was on the westbound James River Expressway off ramp in the turn lane to go west on Sunshine in a 2020 Ford Explorer. When Plunkett’s light turned green, she proceeded into the intersection and was hit by Garton after he disobeyed a solid red light. The collision caused Garton’s vehicle to go through the grassy median and into the westbound lanes on Sunshine Street, where he hit a flatbed trailer attached to a Ford F-350, driven by Jordan Criss, 26, from Springfield, at the westbound stoplight.
Garton was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Garton’s family has been notified.
The circumstances of the crash are under investigation. Anyone with any information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.
This was Springfield’s 18th motor vehicle fatality in 2023.
