Ever since multiple lives were taken in a crash on Highway 79 nearly two years ago, Audrey Lee of Winfield, wanted to do something to make driving that highway safer. Late last year, she finally got her chance when a group of concerned citizens like her along with first responders and local officials banded together to create the Highway 79 Coalition.

“Seconds absolutely count and minutes absolutely count in accidents. I know that there will still be fatalities on Highway 79. We’re trying to figure out a good solution for how do we improve driving behavior because I think we all have heard the stories,” Lee said.

One of those stories and the inspiration and motivation behind the coalition is 23-year-old Racheal “Grace” Neldon’s story. On her way home from a friend’s house April 29, 2023, Neldon’s vehicle collided head-on with a car containing five teenagers. Four of the teens, including the driver who allegedly had alcohol in her system, and Neldon died in the accident.

“I would give anything to have her back and to never have to be a part of this fight,” said Jennifer Neldon, Grace’s mom. “But on the other hand, it means that her life and story are making a difference. It means that people in positions of power are paying attention, that change is happening, and that other families may be spared from this pain.
Grace didn’t get a choice in what happened to her, but I do have a choice in how I carry her forward.”

Sheriff Rick Harrell acknowledges that Highway 79 “has seen its share of tragedy” and says any well-traveled highway has the potential to be dangerous. That is why he stresses the importance of public awareness, infrastructure improvements, and enforcement. And it’s why he thinks the coalition is a good idea.

“As our county grows, we are seeing more congestion and accidents on 79, especially in high-traffic areas and intersections that could benefit from engineering improvements. Additionally, resources for enforcement are always stretched thin, and ensuring consistent traffic enforcement on the highway remains a challenge,” Harrell said.

Architecturally, Lee says Highway 79 is set up well with a wide road and wide shoulders but could use infrastructure work. According to Jeff Niemeyer, MoDot area engineer, Highway 79 is the second most traveled route in Lincoln County. Over the years, he says MoDot has done quite a bit of upgrades including widening the road, adding paved shoulders, and a center line. So, for the foreseeable future, no major improvements are planned by MoDot. In the interim, he is supportive of the coalition and has attended meetings as well as contributed information and answered questions.

“Their goal is to reduce traffic fatalities on Highway 79 which is an awesome goal. Our goal is zero fatalities so our interests are aligning,” he said.

Lee says the traffic on the highway is “so much” but the biggest problem is by far the “terrible” driving behavior and it worries her even more as the population grows. She hopes Highway 79 becomes four lane sooner rather than later. The coalition is under Community Partners of Eastern Lincoln County and consists of law enforcement officers, residents, and local business representatives.

“Our specific mission is to improve the driving behavior and the overall safety of Highway 79,” she said. “We’ll do that by increasing law enforcement, driver awareness, seatbelt usage, and improving infrastructure. Our actual tangible goal is 25 percent reduction in injury or fatality within a five-year period.”

The coalition meets regularly and will continue to do so. Lee says she is already noticing more enforcement which she considers a big step in the right direction.

“I hope the coalition can push for meaningful improvements to Highway 79, including upgrades to road infrastructure, better traffic flow solutions, and increased safety measures. Longterm planning is critical, so this isn’t just a temporary fix but a strategy that keeps pace with our county’s growth,” Harrell said.