Father of two killed in tragic accident as semi truck tires crush car roof
Hartmann is survived by his wife, Kerri, and two children, Ben and Brielle
A man tragically passed away in an unusual event while driving in West St. Louis County.
Around 2pm local time on Thursday (April 23), a pair of tires came off a Volvo VNL and crashed into the roof of a senior male driver's Chevrolet Bolt on Interstate 64 in west St. Louis County, as reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) in a incident report.
The report described how the Volvo VNL “lost two left-side road tires,” which became “airborne” and “pierced the roof” of the Chevrolet Bolt, hitting the driver.
West County EMS and Fire responded, transporting him to Mercy Hospital St. Louis, where he was declared deceased at 2:05 p.m.
The deceased was identified as Ray Hartman, a journalist and ex-Missouri Congressional hopeful, by close friend and attorney Andy Leonard in a statement to Fox 2.
“Our gratitude goes to the officers who responded and the medical staff at Mercy Hospital who were so informative and compassionate,” he shared with the outlet.
According to 5 On Your Side, the driver of the Volvo VNL, a man aged 64, stayed at the scene. His identity has not been made public currently.
Hartman launched the Riverfront Times (RFT) in 1977 and, a decade later, co-created the debate show Donnybrook on Nine PBS, remaining there for several years.
In 1998, he breathed new life into St. Louis Magazine (SLM) and transferred ownership of RFT to Phoenix’s New Times, as noted by SLM.
The journalist, originally from West County, rejoined the RFT in 2018, contributing as a freelance columnist. He concluded his journalism career in 2024, according to SLM.
Nine PBS expressed in a statement, “The whole team at Nine PBS, along with past and present Donnybrookers, are in shock and mourning over the unexpected loss of Ray Hartmann.
Ray was a pillar in St. Louis journalism and the heart of Donnybrook, but more importantly, he was our cherished friend.”
“For nearly forty years, Ray was a fixture at the Donnybrook table, rarely missing an episode, to the delight of audiences with his quick wit and strongly opinionated discussions on community issues,” the statement continued. “...Nine PBS sends our heartfelt sympathy to Ray's family, friends, and colleagues … [his] influence on our community and our mission will endure with us.”
Hartmann is survived by his wife, Kerri, and two children, Ben and Brielle, as reported by Fox 2.