Missouri media organizations sue Highway Patrol over redacted crash reports

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Press Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association and several news organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Missouri State Highway Patrol, alleging the agency violated the state’s Sunshine Law by withholding names and other identifying information from public crash reports.

The lawsuit, filed Friday, Oct. 16, in Cole County Circuit Court, seeks to restore nearly 30 years of public access to unredacted traffic and boating crash reports, including the identities of people killed in accidents.