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Last updated: 10:30 a.m. CDT, Sunday, May 10, 2026
TANEY COUNTY, Mo. — A 60-year-old Branson man died Friday night when his 2006 Honda Civic left MO 376, became airborne, and hit a tree about one mile west of Branson. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the single-vehicle crash happened shortly before 11:30 p.m., and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the patrol’s preliminary report, the Civic had been traveling east on MO 376 when it ran off the right side of the roadway. The car then went airborne before striking a tree. The driver was the only person in the vehicle, and no other cars were listed as involved.
Troopers who reached the scene after the crash said the impact was severe. The driver was pronounced dead there. The patrol also noted that the man was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of people killed in traffic crashes. That policy remains in effect for this case, meaning the driver’s identity will not appear in the patrol’s public reports. The patrol has not indicated whether additional information about the man will be released through any other channel.
The change in how the patrol handles victim names has been in place for some time, and it applies to fatal crashes across Missouri. It is one reason why many local news reports do not identify crash victims unless family members confirm the name or another official source provides it.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Troopers are still reviewing the vehicle, the roadway, and the circumstances leading up to the accident. The preliminary report does not state whether speed, distraction, or a medical event played a role, and those details may not be available until a final report is completed.
MO 376 is a state route that runs through the western edge of Branson, an area with a mix of homes, businesses, and tourist traffic. Late Friday night, traffic on that stretch of roadway would have been relatively light. Still, even at moderate speeds, a vehicle that leaves the pavement can quickly become unstable.
Road-departure crashes are consistently counted among the leading fatal crash types in Missouri and across the country. When a vehicle leaves the roadway, it can strike uneven ground, utility poles, guardrails, trees, or other fixed objects. In this case, the car became airborne before hitting the tree, which means the driver had little ability to steer or brake after leaving the road.
Aviation-style loss of control is not limited to high speeds. The geometry of the roadside, the angle of departure, and the type of terrain all affect how far a vehicle travels before it stops. A simple overcorrection can also make things worse, causing the car to rotate or flip.
Safety experts in Missouri have repeatedly emphasized the importance of lane keeping and safe speed, especially on rural roads. Many fatal crashes in the Ozarks involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway and striking a fixed object. This crash fits that pattern, at least based on the preliminary information available.
The patrol’s report noted that the driver was wearing his seat belt. That is an important detail because seat belt use is one of the most effective ways to reduce serious injuries in a crash. But a high-energy impact with a large tree can still be fatal, particularly when the vehicle becomes airborne before impact.
Missouri law requires drivers and passengers to buckle up. Troopers frequently remind drivers that seat belts reduce the risk of ejection and help the body absorb a crash’s forces. This fatality shows, however, that no single safety measure can guarantee survival in every situation.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will continue gathering information before closing the case. A final report, when complete, will be handled through the patrol’s crash records system. That process can take weeks.
The patrol has not said whether witnesses are being sought, and no pages or additional public statements had been posted as of Sunday morning. Residents who travel MO 376 regularly may want to stay aware of the ongoing investigation and remember that the full circumstances of this deadly crash have not yet been made public.
For now, the main facts remain clear: a Branson man in his 60s was killed late Friday night, his Honda Civic went airborne after leaving MO 376, and the crash took place one mile west of Branson. Until the investigation is finished, questions about exactly why the car left the road may not be resolved.
The incident is a tragic reminder that even a short stretch of roadway can become deadly when a vehicle goes off the pavement. Troopers urge drivers to slow down, stay in their lane, and avoid distractions—especially at night on unfamiliar roads in Taney County.
