Billings, MO : Springfield man killed after being hit by a truck on Highway 60 in Christian County on Sunday night, December 20, 2015

A Springfield man was killed after being hit by a truck on Highway 60 in Christian County on Sunday night.

Sergeant Jason Pace with the Missouri State Highway Patrol says a broken down car was parked in the center turning lane on Highway 60, just east of Billings. Pace says a Billings police officer was already helping the driver, but Dale Deckard walked towards them to offer additional assistance. Pace says Deckard stopped to look down at his phone after he stepped onto the highway, and that’s when he was hit by a westbound truck.

Pace says there’s a chance the fatal crash could have been prevented if Deckard wasn’t distracted by his phone.

“Inattention continues to be the leading cause of all crashes in our state. Whether it be your cell phone, or passengers, or grooming, or eating and that sort of thing. And sadly, we can experience that as well as a pedestrian,” Pace says.

Angie Brooks lives along Highway 60, just east of where the crash happened.

“All of the sudden, next thing I know, there’s an ambulance and all kinds of sirens and then I find out that a guy got hit and didn’t make it,” Brooks explains.

She says after hearing about the fatality, she’s going to be more careful both as a driver and a pedestrian.

“Pay attention,” she says, “On foot, or even behind the wheel. Pay attention to what’s around you… It’s sad. Right before Christmas, too.”

Pace says the crash happened around 8:45 Sunday night, when it was dark out and there are not a lot of lights along that stretch of highway. He says the driver was going under the speed limit and won’t face charges.

Source :

Man killed after stepping out onto Highway 60