NEWS

Man guilty in 'hilltopping' crash that killed friend

Stephen Herzog
SHERZOG@NEWS-LEADER.COM
Prosecutors say Matthew Hogue lost control of his vehicle while hilltopping on Farm Road 132; a passenger was killed in the resulting crash.

A jury on Thursday found a 21-year-old Springfield man guilty in the death of one friend and serious injury of another in a 2013 "hilltopping" crash east of Springfield.

Matthew Hogue was found guilty of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault. He will be sentenced on Oct. 23.

Hilltopping is a term for intentionally speeding over hills for thrills in an attempt to make a vehicle go airborne.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers say Hogue was driving in excess of 70 mph on Farm Road 132, east of Springfield, when he lost control of the car, causing it to overturn several times and kill a passenger. The speed limit on that section of road is 30 mph.

The crash occurred about 1:45 a.m. on May 6, 2013, according to reports.

Prosecutor Philip Fuhrman argued that Hogue's decision to drive at high speeds over the hills resulted in the death of Kendi Highland, 29, and the paralysis of Joseph Sims, 21.

Hogue's attorney, Gary Collins, argued Hogue had gone hilltopping many times before and that the crash was a result of very dark conditions. He said there was no lighting on the road and conditions were cloudy that night.

Hogue, while in the hospital after the crash, reportedly told a trooper he had gone hilltopping on that stretch of the road "a hundred times."

Members of Hogue's family, speaking before the verdict, said hilltopping has been a normal part of growing up in the Ozarks and didn't believe Hogue deserved to go to prison, even if found guilty.

Hogue was visibly upset at times during the trial. Family members said he's struggled emotionally since the crash.

The courtroom was sparsely filled for the trial, with several of Hogue's family members making up most of the crowd. No other media was present.

Todd Wilson, who lives on the property where the crash occurred, testified today.

He recounted hearing banging on his door and yelling about 2 a.m. the morning of the crash. He first thought someone was breaking in but soon saw that Hogue was panicked and asking for help. He drove Hogue the three-tenths of a mile from his house to the site of the crash where Highland and Sims were still in the vehicle.

Matthew Hogue

In January 2008, four Springfield teens were killed on the same stretch of road while apparently hilltopping.

Collins declined to comment after the hearing, but said he "thanked the jury for their time making a difficult decision."

Hogue has been free on bond since June 2013, when he was first charged.