MoDOT worker dies in crash

A 21-year-old MoDOT worker checking on flooded roads early Tuesday was killed when his truck collided nearly head-on with a tractor-trailer.

Joshua L. Slatten of Springfield was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which took place about 5:15 a.m. on U.S. 65 east of Fellows Lake.

Bob Edwards, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said Slatten was a seasonal employee in his third year with the department. "He started back the first of January."

Edwards said Slatten was on duty when a rainstorm moved into the area early Tuesday morning.

"He was one of many MoDOT employees who were out checking roads and setting signs when roads got flooded and had to be closed,"Edwards said.

"He was on his way north of Springfield to check a number of locations."

Slatten was alone and driving north in a one-ton MoDOT dump truck when the collision occurred.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported it was still investigating the cause of the crash, which blocked U.S. 65 near Farm Road 68 for several hours.

Robert D. Christian, 32, of De Soto was driving the southbound tractor-trailer and suffered moderate injuries in the crash. He was taken to St. John's hospital for treatment.

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