A stretch of roadway near Galena is now the focus of an ongoing investigation after a deadly crash claimed the life of 19-year-old Braxon M. Gough on Tuesday night. Authorities say the young Missouri driver was alone when his car left the road and struck a tree.
The crash was reported around 7:45 p.m. at the intersection of S.E. 110th Street and S.E. Turkey Creek Road. The location sits roughly three miles north of Galena, in a rural part of Cherokee County.
Troopers say Gough was driving a 2014 Ford Fusion westbound. At some point, the vehicle drifted off the roadway. Officials have not yet determined why.
After leaving the road, the car collided with a tree. The force of the crash was strong enough to cause major damage.
The vehicle later caught fire, adding another layer of destruction to an already serious accident. Emergency crews responded, but the situation had already turned fatal.
Gough, who was from Joplin, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only person inside the vehicle.
Authorities confirmed no other cars were involved and no one else was hurt. The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances, working to piece together what led to the crash on that quiet Tuesday evening.
