In an incident in the early hours of December 13, 2023, a fatal car accident occurred on Highway 169, about two miles south of Stanberry, in Gentry County. The crash involved a 2011 Dodge Charger, which was reported to have been traveling southbound when the driver, Nicholas R. Merrigan, 38, from Clarksdale, Missouri, lost control of the vehicle.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Dodge Charger failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center of the road, and subsequently veered off the east side. The car then struck a utility pole and became airborne, later impacting the ground on the east side of 460th Road. The vehicle continued to overturn across 372nd Street before coming to rest off the roadway.
Nicholas Merrigan, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries and was transported by Grand River EMS to Mosaic St. Joseph. Michael H. Perman, 44, from King City, Missouri, a passenger in the Charger, was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Gentry County Coroner, Andrew Lindner, pronounced Perman deceased at 2:51 a.m.
The accident scene saw assistance from several agencies, including Sergeant R.P. Dudeck, Trooper T.B. Heintz, Trooper A.J. Kempa, Gentry County authorities, Stanberry Fire Department, and Grand River EMS.
