Columbia pastor dies in I-255 accident

Steve Benke

A Columbia pastor died Thursday afternoon when he stepped from in front of his stranded vehicle along I-255 in St. Louis County and was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Steven J. Benke, 50, of St. Louis, was a campus pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Columbia and also served as a pastor in Jefferson County, Mo.

The accident occurred at 3:55 p.m., according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Benke was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.

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