Scott Chance Obituary, Death: Fatal Springfield Pedestrian Crash Near Kearney Street and Highway 65 Spurs Investigation and Community Reflection

The identity of the man killed in a late-night pedestrian crash in Springfield on June 23 has now been confirmed by local authorities. The victim, 59-year-old Scott Chance, was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Kearney Street near the interchange with U.S. Highway 65 at approximately 11:55 p.m. Despite the prompt arrival of emergency medical personnel and subsequent efforts to save his life, Chance succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to a local hospital.

This tragic incident, disclosed in detail by the Springfield Police Department, is more than just an addition to the city’s growing number of traffic-related fatalities in 2025. It underscores systemic challenges, such as pedestrian infrastructure, driver vigilance, lighting conditions, and the timing of roadway activity—all converging in a moment that led to irreversible loss. As Springfield grieves another preventable death, the spotlight falls on the broader implications of Chance’s demise and what it reveals about urban traffic dynamics, public safety frameworks, and community accountability.

A Fatal Crossing at a Treacherous Junction
At the heart of the incident lies a geographically and logistically complex location: the intersection of Kearney Street and U.S. Highway 65, a corridor known to locals for its heavy traffic flow and inconsistent pedestrian accessibility. Just before midnight on June 23, Scott Chance attempted to cross Kearney Street but was not within a designated crosswalk when he was struck. According to preliminary police reports, there has been no confirmation yet of whether lighting or visibility issues contributed to the collision, nor have officials disclosed any identifying details about the driver involved.

The late-night timing of the crash is a critical detail. Urban transportation researchers have long identified nighttime as the most hazardous period for pedestrian movement. A 2020 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 76% of pedestrian fatalities in the United States occur after dark, often in poorly lit areas and at locations without marked crosswalks—conditions eerily similar to those described in the Chance case.

This setting, already high-risk due to the convergence of fast-moving traffic and inconsistent infrastructure, proved fatal for Chance. Whether he misjudged the speed of the oncoming car or whether the driver failed to see him in time remains unknown. The Springfield Police have withheld commentary on whether speeding, impairment, or distracted driving may have been contributing factors, stating only that the matter remains under active investigation.

Who Was Scott Chance?
Though little biographical detail has been provided, the name Scott Chance now carries the weight of tragedy in Springfield’s community discourse. At 59, Chance was at an age often associated with transitions—approaching retirement, balancing health concerns, or navigating personal reinventions. His sudden death, then, is not just the loss of a statistic or a line item in a police report—it is the extinguishing of an entire lived experience.

In obituaries, as in police reports, language can flatten human complexity into cold finality. But within those sparse lines lies a man whose presence on Kearney Street that night was part of a larger story. Was he walking home from work, visiting someone, or perhaps just out on a late stroll? These unanswered questions make his death all the more poignant, inviting the public to reflect not only on safety protocols, but on human vulnerability itself.

Investigation Underway, Questions Unanswered
Authorities have so far been tight-lipped regarding the identity of the driver, their condition, or the vehicle involved. Notably, no mention has been made of whether the driver remained at the scene or if any field sobriety tests were conducted—omissions that, while possibly procedural, have raised eyebrows among public safety advocates. The phrase “details remain under investigation” serves as a placeholder for a multitude of possibilities: evidence still being collected, witnesses still being interviewed, or legal proceedings potentially being considered.

One of the few concrete statements released by police was a call for witnesses. This suggests a need to triangulate the event using firsthand accounts, which may be vital if the crash occurred in a low-visibility zone without traffic cameras. The department’s dual approach—urging public tips through their main line and through Crime Stoppers—indicates both the seriousness of the case and the hope that anonymity might embolden hesitant witnesses.

The police are also likely to be reviewing data from nearby traffic lights, vehicle sensors, and any security cameras at adjacent businesses. Such digital forensics have become increasingly essential in piecing together incident timelines, especially when human memory is fallible or conflicted.

Pedestrian Fatalities in Context: 2025’s Grim Milestone
Scott Chance’s death is not an isolated incident. It is part of a worrying trend in Springfield’s 2025 traffic safety record. As of late June, the city has recorded 11 fatal traffic accidents resulting in 12 deaths. This number is particularly stark when compared with previous years, suggesting either a rising rate of collisions or increased severity of injuries sustained in them.

The growing toll has compelled Springfield officials to underscore the importance of pedestrian awareness and driver accountability. Yet, critics argue that “awareness” campaigns alone may not be sufficient in the absence of more aggressive infrastructural reforms. Crosswalks, speed-reducing design features, enhanced lighting, and signage are all part of a toolkit long advocated by urban planners, but implementation often lags behind need.

Of particular concern is the ongoing tension between driver convenience and pedestrian safety. In cities like Springfield, designed around vehicular movement, pedestrians are frequently secondary in both budget priorities and street planning. The Kearney and Highway 65 area exemplifies this imbalance—where the built environment invites fast, uninterrupted driving and treats pedestrian crossings as afterthoughts.

Legal, Ethical, and Urban Implications
The possibility of criminal charges looms over this case, depending on what the investigation ultimately reveals. If impairment, distraction, or reckless driving played a role, charges could range from misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter to felony-level offenses. However, if Chance was deemed to have entered the roadway in an unsafe or illegal manner—outside a crosswalk and during low visibility—it’s possible that no charges will be filed at all.

Legal ambiguity in such cases has long frustrated advocates of pedestrian rights. In many jurisdictions, the law places disproportionate burden on pedestrians to act defensively, even in spaces ill-suited for safe walking. Thus, cases like Chance’s can fall into a grey area—tragic but not criminal, avoidable but not necessarily liable.

This raises pressing ethical questions. If a street is designed in a way that practically ensures danger for pedestrians, who bears responsibility when a life is lost? The driver? The city? The planners? Or does the burden unfairly fall on the victim?

For Springfield’s city planners and traffic engineers, Scott Chance’s death could serve as a case study in the high stakes of their design decisions. While the specifics of Chance’s actions that night remain unclear, the need for improved infrastructure is not. His death occurred in a place where hundreds, possibly thousands, of pedestrians have walked before—many no doubt taking similar risks when formal crossing options are too distant, broken, or confusing.

A Community Responds with Grief and Uncertainty
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Springfield residents have been left to grapple with a potent mixture of grief, anger, and helplessness. Local news outlets have provided minimal coverage, focused primarily on the who-what-where-when of the incident. But for community members living near the crash site, especially those who regularly traverse Kearney Street on foot, the event resonates on a much deeper level.

Some residents have begun questioning why crosswalks are so sparsely spaced near Highway 65. Others have pointed to the lack of sufficient lighting or suggested the installation of pedestrian signals. Calls to local radio shows and online comment sections have reflected a mounting frustration with perceived inaction from city authorities.

Yet amidst the dialogue is also a note of sorrow. People who didn’t know Scott Chance personally are nevertheless moved by the idea that a man could be struck down in such a routine, human act as crossing a street. His death personalizes what might otherwise be abstract safety data—it puts a name and a face to a pattern that some had grown numb to.

What Comes Next: Anticipating the Investigation’s Outcomes
As investigators continue to collect information, the next phase will likely involve assessing the need for safety interventions in the area. This could take many forms: reconfiguring lane widths, installing better lighting, adding pedestrian islands or rapid flashing beacons, or even reducing the speed limit through the corridor.

Meanwhile, public engagement will be crucial. Town halls, planning meetings, and transportation committee hearings may soon include Scott Chance’s name and story as a focal point. His death has opened a civic dialogue about responsibility, infrastructure, and the balance between mobility and mortality.

Whether the driver is ultimately charged or cleared, whether the road is redesigned or left unchanged, and whether Chance’s story is remembered or quickly forgotten—these outcomes remain uncertain. But the underlying issues exposed by his death will likely persist, unless Springfield as a whole commits to rethinking the way people move through its streets.

Final Thoughts: A Name in the Crosswalk of Public Memory
Scott Chance’s death on June 23 is a tragedy not only because of its finality, but because of its familiarity. Across the country, similar stories play out nightly—pedestrians struck outside of crosswalks, drivers reacting too late, cities lagging behind in safety improvements. Yet every statistic begins with a name, and this time, it was Scott Chance.

In honoring his memory, Springfield is called not just to mourn, but to reckon. With every pedestrian death, the city is handed a lesson. The question is whether it will be learned.

If you have any information related to the incident, the Springfield Police Department encourages you to call 417-864-1810. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.