Oklahoma trucker who rear-ended SUV, killed former Joplin resident, cited for following too closely in 2012

A Bartlesville, Oklahoma semi-driver who rear-ended an SUV Thursday, killing a former Joplin resident and leaving three others critically injured has been cited previously for following too closely.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol report, the accident occurred just after 10 a.m. on snow-covered I-70, 10 miles south of Colby, Kansas. A 2018 Peterbilt driven by Robert Charles Goodine, 50, Bartlesville, struck a 2018 GMC Yukon driven by Justin Blaire Buerge, 42, Overland Park, Kansas, a former Joplin resident, in the rear, pinning the vehicle against a guard rail.

A passenger in the Buerge vehicle, Jackson Buerge, 16, was pronounced dead at Logan County Hospital.


Buerge and the other two passengers, Trisha Marie Buerge, 40, and Maxwell Buerge, 9, were taken to Logan County Hospital with serious injuries. All of them were wearing seat belts, according to the report.

Goodine suffered no apparent injury, the report said.

While there is no mention of any citation for Goodine, Oklahoma court records indicate the Oklahoma Highway Patrol cited Goodine in October 2012 for following too closely. He paid a $211.50 fine.

Goodine was arrested June 23, 2006, in Washington County, Oklahoma for driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia and attempting to elude a police officer.