Illinois truck driver who killed Joplin third grader in hit-and-run on Newman Road sentenced to four years in prison

An Illinois truck driver was sentenced to four years in prison today by Jasper County Circuit Court Judge Gayle Crane after pleading guilty to felony leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the September 27, 2018 hit-and-run death of Destiny Chambers, 8, a third grader at Soaring Heights Elementary School in Joplin.

Lance T. Lee, 51, DeKalb, Illinois hit the child at 6:55 a.m. that day as she waited for a school bus on Newman Road and never stopped his truck until he reached Strafford.

At first, Lee told the Highway Patrol he thought he hit a deer on I-44, but changed his story, admitted being on Newman Road and said he thought he hit a mailbox. Lee said he told his employer he hit a derr because he could have been charged if he had hit a mailbox. 

At first, Lee told the Highway Patrol he thought he hit a deer on I-44, but changed his story, admitted
The probable cause statement is printed below:

From the probable cause statement:

The crash occurred as a 2017 Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Lance T. Lee, date of birth September 25, 1969, was traveling eastbound on Newman Road. The pedestrian, D. C., date of birth July 17, 2010, was running northbound from her residence along Sunny Crest Lane.

D. C. ran into the path of Lee’s vehicle and was struck by the front of the vehicle in the eastbound lane of Newman Road. Lee’s vehicle did not travel off the roadway and did not strike any other object at the scene. Lee did not stop and continued east, leaving the scene of the crash.

D. C. was transported by ground ambulance and pronounced dead at Freeman West Hospital by Dr. Boulware at 0727 hours. 

Lee and the vehicle he was driving at the time of the crash were located at YRC Freight in Strafford, Missouri. Sections of broken bumper from the crash scene were transported to Lee’s location. The bumper sections matched the damage to Lee’s vehicle. Pink fibers located at the scene with D. C's. clothing were also found on the vehicle with blood and skin.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Michael Bracker read Lee his Miranda warning at 1119 hours. During an interview conducted by Sergeant Bracker, Lee first stated he struck a deer on Interstate 44 near the 46 mile marker. Lee then admitted to being at the crash scene on Newman Road.

Lee stated he saw the school bus stopped on Sunny Slope Lane and thought he struck a mailbox as he passed the school bus. Lee stated he told his company he struck a deer because hitting a mailbox is a chargeable accident and he would have lost time.