Missing Exeter woman found deceased in crash
December 20, 2023
By Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
An Exeter woman who was reported missing on Monday, December 18, was found deceased in her crashed vehicle on Tuesday.
A friend of Dorothy Lewis, 67, of Exeter, contacted Barry County Dispatch on Monday to have a deputy perform a welfare check on Lewis as she had not heard from her since December 14 which was out of character. Deputies were unable to locate Lewis at her residence and her vehicle was missing.
The Barry County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for assistance in locating Lewis in a Facebook post on Tuesday. According to Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd, an employee with SWMO Water District notified dispatch of a crashed vehicle matching the description deep down a ravine off Farm Road 1010. Deputies arrived at the scene and contacted Missouri State Highway Patrol of the crash.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report investigated by Cpl. K.L. Knight, dated December 15, 2023, the 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by Lewis, was traveling northbound on Farm Road 1010, six miles west of Exeter, when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck trees. The vehicle then became airborne, struck the ground and over turned. Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen responded to the scene and confirmed Lewis was deceased. Lewis was wearing a safety device. She was transported to Fohn’s Funeral Home, in Cassville.
A friend of Dorothy Lewis, 67, of Exeter, contacted Barry County Dispatch on Monday to have a deputy perform a welfare check on Lewis as she had not heard from her since December 14 which was out of character. Deputies were unable to locate Lewis at her residence and her vehicle was missing.
The Barry County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for assistance in locating Lewis in a Facebook post on Tuesday. According to Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd, an employee with SWMO Water District notified dispatch of a crashed vehicle matching the description deep down a ravine off Farm Road 1010. Deputies arrived at the scene and contacted Missouri State Highway Patrol of the crash.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report investigated by Cpl. K.L. Knight, dated December 15, 2023, the 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by Lewis, was traveling northbound on Farm Road 1010, six miles west of Exeter, when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck trees. The vehicle then became airborne, struck the ground and over turned. Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen responded to the scene and confirmed Lewis was deceased. Lewis was wearing a safety device. She was transported to Fohn’s Funeral Home, in Cassville.