UPDATE: Tragic Fatal Crash West Of Novelty

UPDATE: According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the driver killed in a head-on collision on Highway 156 at the Salt River Bridge was Randy Parsons, 56, of Shelbyville, MO.

The other driver, who was seriously injured in the crash, was Aleksander Rowinski, 25  33, of Lancaster, MO.

Correction: According to the report, Parsons was westbound in a 2014 Chevy Truck.  Rowinski, who was eastbound in a 2014 Ford Truck, traveled into the path of Parsons.

The crash happened at approximately 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.

Rowinski was taken by the Air Evac Team to the University Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Parsons was pronounced dead by Knox County Coroner Jeff Doss at 6:18 p.m.

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UPDATE: According to information released by the Missouri Department of Transportation, Highway 156 is open.

Posted at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

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Original Story Below

According to reports at the scene, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, firefighters were called to the scene of a two-vehicle head-on collision on Highway 156 west of Novelty at the Salt River Bridge.

When emergency crews arrived to the scene they found two vehicles fully engulfed in flames and fought the fire with water and a special foam used to extinguish flammable materials. The descriptions of the vehicles are not being released at this time.

According to a report, only two drivers were involved in the crash. One driver was pulled out of a vehicle and saved by a Good Samaritan, a Knox County native whose name is not being released at this time. The driver of the other vehicle could not be saved.

The driver, who was pulled from the burning wreckage, was taken away by helicopter, which landed in a nearby field southeast of the crash site.

Because of the nature of this story we will not be posting any photos of the full crash scene at this time. The identities of the people involved in the crash have not been released to the public and will not be released until the family of the deceased is properly notified.

Highway 156 remains closed in both directions. The impact of the crash caused damage to the cement on the bridge. The Missouri Department of Transportation was asked to evaluate the bridge. We will update this story when we are notified if and when Highway 156 reopens.

First Responders from the Novelty, Hurdland and Edina Fire Departments, the Knox County Rescue Squad, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Knox County Ambulance District, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Air Evac Team and the Knox County Coroner was observed at the scene.

Posted at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015