New charges filed in fatal 2023 Galena hit-and-run

KSNF/KODE — Prosecutors filed new charges today in a hit-and-run crash that left a Galena man dead last year.

The charges filed are against 54-year-old Doctor John Joseph II, a Joplin dentist. He’s charged with two felony counts relating to the hit-and-run death of Gary Laturner, 60, on August 19 of last year.

He’s charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and contributing to a child’s misconduct.

Laturner died after being struck by a pickup truck as he was walking along Route 66 just outside of Galena.

The Kansas Highway Patrol originally listed Joseph’s son, Rocco Joseph Bazzano, as the driver of the truck that hit Laturner.

Bazzano was charged in the case, in February, as a juvenile. He was 17-years-old at the time of the crash.

Court documents filed today say Dr. Joseph was the driver of the pickup. Bazzano is listed as a witness on court records.

Joseph is scheduled to be arraigned in Cherokee County Court on October 7.

We reached out to LaTurner’s family tonight for comment — they say they “simply want justice for Gary.”

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