The Linn County Ambulance District says one of their ambulances was involved in a crash Wednesday, Apr. 29 in northern Boone County that claimed the life of a Moberly man.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that the two-vehicle collision occurred around 5:40 p.m. in the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 63 at McComas Road, three miles southwest of Sturgeon. According to troopers, a minivan driven by an 81-year-old Moberly man attempted to turn onto Route 63 by driving onto the right shoulder. A Ford Transit driven by a 56-year-old man from Brunswick was in one of the southbound lanes and attempted to change lanes to avoid the minivan, but the two collided.

The minivan’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the Brunswick driver and a 60-year-old man from Bevier were both taken to a Columbia hospital with moderate injuries. A Marceline woman in the ambulance was reported to have minor injuries and also taken to Columbia.

In a statement late Wednesday night, the Linn County Ambulance District confirmed that it was one of their ambulances involved in the crash:

The district added, “our thoughts and prayers are with the families and individuals affected by this tragedy. We are cooperating fully with the Missouri State Highway Patrol as they investigate the scene.” The Missouri Department of Transportation had identified the intersection as needing safety improvements, and had been in the process of finalizing plans for their construction later this year.