A quiet Tuesday afternoon in Carthage, Missouri turned into a nightmare when 22-year-old Mark Anthony Mendez‑Hernandez allegedly plowed through a stop sign, crashing into an SUV driven by 76-year-old Gale Wade, killing him instantly and seriously injuring his wife. The intersection of Oak Street and McGregor Street became the scene of a community-shaking event around 3:00 p.m., as reported by local police.
According to law-enforcement statements, Mendez-Hernandez was driving a black pickup southbound on McGregor when he failed to stop at the posted stop sign. His truck struck the eastbound SUV carrying the Wades, then pushed that vehicle into a stationary gray pickup truck waiting at the northbound stop sign. Wade was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife was airlifted to a hospital in Springfield for treatment of severe injuries.
The suspect attempted to flee on foot immediately after the collision, but several bystanders pursued him for several blocks. Their intervention helped local officers locate and eventually arrest Mendez-Hernandez, who is now being held in the Jasper County jail without bond. Court documents reveal that this is not his first run-in with law enforcement for driving while intoxicated.
The intersection remained closed for five hours as the state crash-reconstruction team worked on gathering evidence and documenting the scene. Investigators are still probing the full circumstances: speed, alcohol levels, vehicle condition and sight-lines at the intersection.
For the Carthage community, the tragedy has sparked a deep reflection on the dangers of driving under the influence and the role ordinary citizens can play. What began as routine errands or travel ended in loss, pain and a charge list for the suspect that now includes DWI with death and manslaughter among potential counts.
Friends and neighbors of the Wades described the couple as longtime locals, kind-hearted and devoted to one another. Gale’s sudden death has left a tangible void, and the trauma of his wife’s injuries continues to weigh heavily on them. The broader message, many say, is that no one can afford complacency behind the wheel. Instead, one split second, one bad judgment, one disregard for the rules — and lives change forever.
As the investigation proceeds, the case remains a stark reminder: a simple stop sign mattered, and so did people who spoke up — the citizens who pursued the fleeing driver. In the end, the cost of disregard was too high, and the community now watches and waits for formal charges to be filed, hearts heavy with sorrow and determination.