Truck Driver Jailed For Crash That Killed 2 Missouri Residents

On Wednesday morning, a truck driven by Lei Sun, 31, a Chinese citizen who lives in Alhambra, California, crashed into two vehicles on U.S. 60 in Republic, Missouri, killing the occupants.

Four vehicles were involved in the wreck: two trucks, a 2011 Chevrolet pickup and a 2011 Nissan Altima.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. Corey Gresham, 41, of Macon, and Lawrence Coan Jr., 65, of Kimberling City, Missouri, were stopped at a stop light, behind a truck driven by Edward Holland.  According to KSPR, Sun’s truck approached the stop light but did not slow; the truck slammed into the pickup and car, pushing the vehicles under the Holland’s truck.

Gresham and Coan died at the scene.

According to the crash report, “[Coan, Gresham, AND truck driver Edward Holland] WERE STOPPED IN RIGHT LANE AND [Oval Williams] WAS STOPPED IN LEFT LANE FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. [Sun] STRUCK [Coan] IN THE REAR, CAUSING Coan TO STRIKE Gresham, THEN Gresham STRUCK Holland. Williams WAS STRUCK BY DEBRIS. GREENE COUNTY CORONER, TOM VAN DE BERG, RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. CRASH TEAM #3, SGT BRIAN C GRUBEN #1195, SGT SCOTT R RICHARDSON #753, AND SGT BONNIE TALIK #348 RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, BOTH SURVIVING DRIVERS WERE TESTED FOR ALCOHOL.

On Wednesday afternoon, Sun was charged with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and is being held on a $25,000 bond.  If convicted, he could serve up to 7 year for each count.

KSPR reported that the speed limit in the area of the crash was 40 mph. Missouri State Troopers reported Sun was traveling 59.5 mph at the time of the crash, based on information gathered from the truck’s crash data recorder.

In addition, Sun was in HOS violation at the time of the crash.

“Cpl. Badget spoke with a member of Homeland Security, Immigration Customs and Enforcement, regarding (Sun).  He was informed that (Sun’s) immigration is currently on appeal status.  It is my understanding that (Sun) is Chinese,” KSPR reported.

Sources: KSPR

Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Reports

Video Credit: Springfield News Leader