Jun 04, 2020

DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark dies in car crash

Posted Jun 04, 2020 2:00 PM

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Clark died late this morning when his patrol pick-up crashed on Highway 36 near the Osborn junction, while he was in route to assist one of his deputies.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says the news came as a shock to his fellow sheriffs.

“What we’ve been told is that Sheriff Clark was responding to assist a deputy who needed some assistance and, in that response, there was a car crash,” Puett tells St. Joseph Post. “Sheriff Clark was severely injured. He was transported to Mosaic where he later passed away due to the injuries from the crash.”

The crash occurred just before 11:30 this morning.

Puett says this is a hard loss to take.

“I’ve known Andy for years,” Puett says. “Andy was a really good man and an outstanding sheriff, very passionate about serving his community and citizens; always had a smile on his face. Everybody loved Andy. It’s just heartbreaking to hear that.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports states Clark was driving south on Missouri 33 when, crossing over to eastbound U.S. 36, his pick-up was struck on the passenger side by an eastbound sport utility vehicle.

Both vehicles went off the south side of U.S. 36.

The patrol reports Clark was not wearing his seat belt.

Clark was pronounced dead after being taken to the Mosaic Life Care hospital in St. Joseph.

The driver of the SUV, 71-year-old Robert Carpenter of Diller, Nebraska, suffered moderate injuries. Three passengers in the SUV sustained minor injuries.

The patrol says the crash occurred a mile north of Osborn at 11:20 Wednesday morning.

Clark was 43.

This article has been updated since first published.