Head-on Collision Kills Two In Lafayette County

A head-on collision left two people dead Monday night in Lafayette County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a northbound 2006 Buick Lucerne, driven by 61-year-old Gerald L. Ratcliffe of Hale, Mo., was on Missouri 23, south of Jingles Road (southwest of Waverly) just before 6:30 p.m., when the Buick crossed the center of the roadway and struck a southbound 2014 Chevy Captiva, driven by a 17-year-old male from Carrollton.

The two vehicles struck head-on, and Ratcliffe was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Cox at 7:03 p.m. The body was taken to Stewart-Hoefer Funeral Home in Higginsvile.

The juvenile was transported to Carroll County Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:52 p.m., by Dr. Andrew Horine.

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Neither driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the report.

Both vehicles were totaled.

Lafayette County Deputies assisted the Patrol.

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