Springfield is waking up to grief after a devastating crash on Interstate‑44 early Thursday morning took the life of 48‑year‑old Wesley Osborne. Police say Osborne was struck and killed by a semi‑truck in the westbound lanes near the U.S. 65 exit just after 1:15 a.m., leaving his family and this community reeling.
Officials with the Springfield Police Department confirm Osborne was walking in the westbound lanes of I‑44 when a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by 36‑year‑old Mohammed Soghar of Kansas City, Kansas, hit him. The impact was immediate, and Osborne was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been notified of the tragic loss.
Troopers shut down the interstate for several hours as crash investigators carefully combed the scene for clues. Westbound traffic was diverted off the highway at U.S. 65 while officers documented evidence and worked to understand what led to the fatal collision.
Friends and neighbors describe Osborne as a familiar face in his Springfield community – someone who loved his hometown and whose absence will be deeply felt. People who knew him say he had a generous spirit and a way of making ordinary days better for others around him. His sudden death has left many struggling to grapple with what happened so suddenly.
Springfield mourns not just a second traffic fatality this year, but the loss of a life that touched so many. Conversations at local coffee shops, churches, and online reflect both sorrow and a call for greater awareness of pedestrian safety on busy roadways like I‑44.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen something important before, during, or after the crash to reach out. The Springfield Police Department can be reached at 417‑864‑1810, and anonymous tips can also be made through Crime Stoppers at 417‑869‑TIPS or online at p3tips.com.
In the quiet aftermath of this tragedy, the thoughts of an entire city remain with Osborne’s family. As investigators continue their work, Springfield holds onto memories of a man whose life ended far too soon and whose legacy will live on among those who loved him.
