Authorities are investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred early Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025, on U.S. Highway 75 near County Road 3600, southwest of Independence.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, along with Independence Rural Fire Department, Independence City Fire Department, and Independence EMS, were dispatched to reports of a vehicle on fire following a rollover crash around dawn. When emergency crews arrived, they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
After the fire was extinguished, first responders discovered a deceased occupant inside. The driver was later identified as 21-year-old Heath Ellis of Caney, Kansas.
Preliminary findings indicate that Ellis was driving a 2024 Kia when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle left the roadway, overturned, and struck a culvert before coming to rest. Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the crash. At this time, it is unclear whether speed, weather, or impairment played a role.
Sheriff Ron Wade expressed condolences to the victim’s family, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ellis family during this difficult time.”
No additional information has been released as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the fatal accident.
