The quiet community of New Madrid County, Missouri, is grappling with the aftermath of an unspeakable tragedy that occurred on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. A devastating two-vehicle collision claimed the lives of four people.
Deputy Dustin Colbert, an off-duty officer with the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, his two young daughters, aged four and one, and 17-year-old Nevaeh Ladiamond Debose, a high school junior from Lilbourn. The catastrophic crash has left the small community in deep sorrow, prompting waves of mourning, reflection, and calls for support for the grieving families.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was called to the scene of the crash, which took place around 4:35 p.m. on Highway U, a rural road connecting the towns of Lilbourn and New Madrid. Preliminary investigations revealed that Deputy Colbert, driving his personal vehicle with his daughters as passengers, lost control of the car.
The vehicle veered across the centerline and collided head-on with a second car driven by Nevaeh Debose. The impact was devastating, and all four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputy Colbert, his daughters, and Nevaeh were all residents of Lilbourn, a small town within New Madrid County. The news has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, where nearly everyone knew or had interacted with the victims. Schools, local government offices, and law enforcement agencies have come together to mourn the loss, offering condolences and organizing support efforts for the affected families.
