West Plains, MO. – On June 5, 2024, a truck driver involved in a three-vehicle crash in 2022 was charged with 3 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and 1 count of second-degree assault after two children and one woman were fatally injured.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the crash occurred on May 25, 2022, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and State Route 17 in West Plains. Clayton Rainwater, the driver of a 50-foot Peterbilt semi hauling a trailer with 77 cows, approached the intersection and struck a 2017 Nissan Rouge attempting to make a left-hand turn. After striking the Nissan, then Rainwater continued north and crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting a 2007 Pontiac head-on before jackknifing. The semi-trailer tipped sideways and landed on top of the Pontiac. Numerous semi-wreckers and cranes were called to the scene to get the trailer off of the vehicle. Once the vehicle was free from the trailer, they were able to get to the victims inside the vehicle. 22-year-old Alexias Crider and a pair of juvenile passengers were pronounced deceased at the scene. Another juvenile passenger in the Pontiac was taken to a Springfield Hospital with serious injuries.
Chyanne Poole and Taryn O’Dell, the driver and passenger in the Nissan, both received moderate injuries and were transported to Ozarks Healthcare. Clayton Rainwater and Eva Durham, a passenger in the semi-truck, were both unharmed in the accident.
Officers with the West Plains Police Department spoke with Rainwater who stated that the rain on the roadway and the trailer full of cows made it nearly impossible to stop for the red light. Rainwater did agree to a blood test and a breathalyzer test which both turned up negative for having any drugs or alcohol in his system. Upon further investigation of the semi-truck, the Police Department found that the truck was being operated with out-of-service violations at the time of the crash.
No courts dates have been scheduled at this time.
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