Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Kelly Poynter was struck and killed by a drunk driver while working a crash scene on U.S. Route 63 in Texas County, Missouri.
When he noticed the vehicle heading his way, he pushed some of the men out of the way. He was killed instantly.
The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck Trooper Poynter was intoxicated and driving at a high rate of speed. She was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. The suspect was sentenced to 7 years but released after serving a court-ordered 120 days for completing an alcohol treatment program. The judge in the case set the sentence up this way because the driver's blood alcohol level was 0.07. In Missouri, it has to be 0.08 or more to be legally under the influence.
Trooper Poynter had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4304976F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Poynter gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Poynter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Kelly Leland Poynter is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Missouri State Highway Patrol, 13 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kelly Leland Poynter's cause is highlighted.
How Kelly Leland Poynter Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 7 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kelly Leland Poynter is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kelly Leland Poynter was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Missouri State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
