Two Clinton residents died after their vehicles collided on a bridge outside Warsaw, sending one of their vehicles into Truman Lake.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash occurred Friday evening around 8:45 p.m. on the Mile Long Bridge that carries Route 7 over Truman Lake, west of Warsaw. According to troopers, a vehicle driven by a 44-year-old woman was in the southbound lane when she crossed into the path of a northbound SUV driven by a 26-year-old man, striking it head-on. The collision sent the SUV into the railing, and then off the bridge. The first vehicle’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The Highway Patrol closed the bridge for several hours Saturday to allow recovery of the SUV from the water as well as its driver.

Troopers say both drivers were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. The Patrol’s Troop A has investigated 20 fatal crashes in their 11-county area thus far in 2025, with a total of 23 fatalities reported.