Accident claims life, friendship of promising Spartan

A freshman teammate asked to stash his helmet in Matt Rudder’s locker following football camp at Moberly High School last Thursday. It was the last time that teammate saw Matt alive.

Matt spent last Thursday morning at football camp honing his skills in that sport. Just before noon after camp was finished, he and teammate Cristian Alvizo headed north to go swimming. As they reached the Highway 63 and Rt. K intersection at Cairo, they were hit on the passenger side, where Matt was seated, by a MoDOT maintenance vehicle.

According to the Highway Patrol report, the MoDOT vehicle, headed west on K, failed to yield and struck the S-10 truck Cristian and Matt were in. The vehicle hit the right front corner and the passenger’s door. Both vehicles traveled through the intersection and into the grass median. Cristian was transported to the University Hospital in Columbia by Randolph County Ambulance with serious injuries. Matt was taken to the same hospital by Staff for Life helicopter. He was pronounced dead at 1:50 p.m.

Matt Rudder, 17, three-year Spartan football player who was about to start his senior year, lived for football. He loved playing football, his teammates were his friends and many of his conversations centered around the sport. So when the school district learned of his death, an alert was sent out to inform the district patrons. A gathering was held on the football field to allow for mourning and mutual comfort. The district has provided counseling for those who feel the need to talk to someone of their loss.

In an effort to honor Matt and show their solidarity, members of the Spartan football team were asked to don their jerseys at the Tuesday morning funeral to pay final tribute to #49.

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The Highway Patrol conducted a reconstruction of the accident scene. When the report of this investigation is complete, it will be sent to Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Fusselman who will determine if charges should be brought against the driver of the MoDOT vehicle, James Griffith, 25. According to MoDOT District 2 engineer Dan Niec, Griffith is on paid leave pending the completion of the investigation.

** RC Ambulance Director Clay Joiner, who helped work the scene of the accident, said Cristian, despite his injuries, was more concerned with the condition of Matt and of Griffith. Joiner enlisted the help of Sergio Cruz, an employee at Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant, who was instrumental in serving as interpreter with Cristian’s mother to determine his condition. Cristian was released from the hospital the following day.