On July 3, 2025 at approximately 4:30 pm in Festus, MO, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) reported a minivan backed into a fireworks tent in the parking of the Festus Walmart. The MSHP reported the white Chrysler Pacifica was backing up and hit a couple of other vehicles before hitting concrete pillars then crashing into the fireworks tent.

Five people were injured including a 6-year-old child when the child and his father were pinned under the van. All four of the five people were transported to the St. Louis hospitals with moderate injuries. The child’s father was transported with a serious head injury.

Police and fire officials are still investigating the incident.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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