Teen Airlifted After TT Highway Crash
May 27, 2020

Isaac Estes-Jones
A Joplin teenager was airlifted after the car he was riding in ran off TT Highway outside of Crane last week. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Report, Christopher A. Thornburg, 18, of Joplin, was flown to the hospital after a crash on Sunday, May 17.
Thornburg was riding in a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 18 year old Eliza Hohgrefe, of Aurora.
According to the report, the Malibu ran off TT Highway about five miles west of Crane at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. The crash happened near the intersection of State Routes TT and V, according to coordinates listed by the highway patrol. The Malibu overturned after running of the highway.
Thornburg, a passenger in the car, suffered serious injuries in the crash. He was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield by Med Flight for treatment. He was reportedly not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The driver, Eliza Hohgrefe, was also not wearing a seat belt. She suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
A third individual, a 16 year old male from Branson, had minor injuries from the crash. He was taken to Cox Hospital in Branson by a private vehicle. He was wearing a seat belt.
The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu was totaled in the crash. It was towed from the scene by Hillbilly’s Wrecker.
This incident was investigated by Cpl. Mason of Missouri State Highway Patrol.
A Joplin teenager was airlifted after the car he was riding in ran off TT Highway outside of Crane last week. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Report, Christopher A. Thornburg, 18, of Joplin, was flown to the hospital after a crash on Sunday, May 17.
Thornburg was riding in a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 18 year old Eliza Hohgrefe, of Aurora.
According to the report, the Malibu ran off TT Highway about five miles west of Crane at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. The crash happened near the intersection of State Routes TT and V, according to coordinates listed by the highway patrol. The Malibu overturned after running of the highway.
Thornburg, a passenger in the car, suffered serious injuries in the crash. He was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield by Med Flight for treatment. He was reportedly not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The driver, Eliza Hohgrefe, was also not wearing a seat belt. She suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
A third individual, a 16 year old male from Branson, had minor injuries from the crash. He was taken to Cox Hospital in Branson by a private vehicle. He was wearing a seat belt.
The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu was totaled in the crash. It was towed from the scene by Hillbilly’s Wrecker.
This incident was investigated by Cpl. Mason of Missouri State Highway Patrol.