

CARL JUNCTION, MO – A solemn scene unfolded in Jasper County on Sunday afternoon as deputies rushed to an incident at the intersection of State Highway 171 and Pennell Street.
A vehicle with two people inside, identified as Dacoda Bittner, 24, and Terry Long, 39, were fatally struck by a train on the railroad track bridge in Carl Junction, Missouri.
According to Sheriff Randee Kaiser, initial findings suggest that the tragedy unfolded after Bittner’s truck collided with a concrete block near the bridge. Despite the train’s warning horn, the two men did not clear the tracks in time.
Investigators report evidence found at the scene could indicate alcohol may have played a role, the ongoing investigation continues to unravel the details of this devastating event.