Dexter teenager killed in auto accident

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter High School lost a member of its sophomore class Wednesday night in a single-vehicle accident

Douglas A. Ashby, 16, of Dexter was killed in the crash that occurred on Route Z in Stoddard County, two miles west of Bernie.

According to the report, at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the accident which occurred as Ashby, was driving westbound on Route Z. The vehicle, 1991 Chevrolet pickup truck, traveled off of the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment.

A deputy from the Stoddard County Sheriff's office reported Thursday morning Ashby was not thrown from his vehicle. Ashby was transported to Missouri Southern Healthcare where he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. The exact cause of death is not known at this time.

Contacted early Thursday morning by telephone, Stoddard County Coroner Morgan Sifford of Puxico said he did not know the exact cause of death and an autopsy would not be performed. "I don't know any details," Sifford said.

The flag at Dexter High School is flying at half staff Thursday in memory of Ashby.

Ashby is the second of this year's sophomore class to die since the second semester of the school year began. On Jan. 10, 15-year old Adam Lott was killed in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Grant and Two Mile Road.