Tragedy struck earlier this week on a Missouri highway when a pregnant woman lost her life following a car accident, as reported by the Springfield Police Department.
The victim, Leah Hyde, a therapist who was anticipating the arrival of a baby girl, was fatally hit by a vehicle after she exited her car upon colliding with a highway divider.
Hyde, 24, from Willard, was driving her 2015 Subaru Forester on the westbound inside lane of the West James River Expressway when the unfortunate incident unfolded.
The news has left her family, friends, and the local community heartbroken, as Hyde was known for her deep compassion and positive impact on her patients and their families.
“She wanted them to grow into the best individuals they could be,” shared Valerie Willis, a longtime acquaintance who has known Hyde since her infancy.
“She was committed to being a part of that journey,” Willis remarked to KY3.
“She was so proud to be a part,” Willis said.
“My dad was hospitalized, and she was one of the occupational therapists who came in to deal with him,” said Bernadette Shively, a family friend.
“And my mom and dad were like, she was so lovely. She was so personal. And she just cared,” Shively continued.
Hyde, who grew up in the Ozarks, married her husband Josh Snodgrass in November 2024. They were expecting a baby girl, Lark Elizabeth.
“We literally giggled and laughed and talked about all the things,” Shively said.
“And it was a baby girl, and how excited she was,” Shively continued.
Since Hyde’s passing, the community has rallied to support the family, raising over $50,000 toward their $60,000 goal.
“That is a show of how many lives they have touched. What this family has done for this community and been a part of.”
