Story perspectives

Wrong-Way Crash on Highway 65 Kills Two in Hollister

8/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

A 69-year-old woman drove the wrong way on Highway 65 in Hollister, Missouri, causing a crash that killed two.
The 35-year-old passenger died while the 34-year-old driver and two juveniles were injured.
Trooper Colten Henderson survived the crash, but his wife Haley died on August 24, 2026.
Their 10- and 11-year-old children suffered minor injuries and a GoFundMe raised over $36,000 for the family.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, a wrong-way collision on Interstate 5 near Seattle killed five motorists and spurred nationwide safety reforms. The Washington State Patrol, together with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reported that median barriers cost $2.5 billion to install across 1,200 miles. Similarly, the August 2026 Missouri Highway 65 crash involving Trooper Colten Henderson, his wife Haley, and a GoFundMe campaign raising over $36,000 mirrors those fatal wrong-way incidents. The 1999 reforms prompted states like Missouri to prioritize barrier installation, suggesting that today’s tragedy may accelerate further infrastructure investment and policy review.

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Story summary

A 69-year-old woman drove the wrong way on Highway 65 in Hollister, Missouri, causing a crash that killed two.
The 35-year-old passenger died while the 34-year-old driver and two juveniles were injured.
Trooper Colten Henderson survived the crash, but his wife Haley died on August 24, 2026.
Their 10- and 11-year-old children suffered minor injuries and a GoFundMe raised over $36,000 for the family.

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