Superintendent killed, 2 kids hurt in crash on first day of school, Missouri cops say

The superintendent of a Missouri school district was killed in a crash on the first day of classes, officials say.

Two teenagers were also seriously injured in the collision, which happened around 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, in Polk County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Matthew Bushey, identified as the superintendent of the Dadeville School District, was pronounced dead at the scene following the head-on crash.

A 16-year-old driver in a separate vehicle was flown to a hospital in Springfield, and a 17-year-old passenger was taken to another hospital in an ambulance, according to highway patrol.

The Ford F-150 being driven by the 16-year-old crossed the center line, then struck Bushey’s Volkswagen Jetta head-on, officials said.

School district officials announced Bushey’s death Wednesday afternoon.

“It is with heavy hearts that I share with you the passing of Superintendent Matt Bushey,” several school district officials said in a joint statement. “Dr. Bushey was lost in an automobile accident this morning just prior to the school day. As you know, this is the first day of school and we understand the emotions that our staff and students are feeling.”

Bushey, 48, had worked in the Dadeville School District for at least 18 years, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

“Dadeville has a lot of pride in their school district so I know it is a devastating loss for everyone there today,” Doug Hayter, executive director of the Missouri Association of School Administrators, told the News-Leader.

Dadeville is in southwest Missouri about 35 miles northwest of Springfield.

This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Superintendent killed, 2 kids hurt in crash on first day of school, Missouri cops say."