Driver gets 10-year sentence for deadly Lawrence County collision

A man from Aurora, Missouri, has been given a ten-year prison sentence for causing a fatal crash in 2023 while driving under the influence. The incident occurred on July 6, 2023, near Lawrence 1160 in Verona when the man's Ford Pickup veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with another pickup driven by Mance Wilkerson, who tragically passed away from his injuries on July 9. The driver, identified as Lueders, was arrested for driving while intoxicated after a breath test revealed his blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit of 0.08%. In addition to facing charges for DWI, he was also cited for careless driving and not wearing a seat belt. Lueders, who sustained serious injuries in the crash, was transported to Mercy Hospital Springfield for treatment. Authorities noted signs of impairment like alcohol smell, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech when they interacted with him at the scene. Despite admitting to drinking, Lueders claimed he did not recall being subjected to the breath test or informed of his arrest. Further tests conducted subsequently confirmed his intoxication, leading to his incarceration in a Missouri correctional facility to serve his sentence.