A Wildwood man who founded his own guitar school for youth was killed in a head-on crash Friday after his vehicle crossed the center line of Missouri Highway 94 in Montgomery County.

Matthew J. Kovis, 36, was pronounced dead a few hours after the crash at 7 a.m. Friday, the Missouri Highway Patrol said.

It was unclear what caused Kovis' 2005 Dodge to cross over to the other side of the highway. The accident was about three miles east of Portland, Mo.

The driver of the other vehicle, Adam D. Dothage, 29, of Holts Summit, was taken to an area hospital and he was listed in serious condition, police said.

Kovis founded the Wildwood Guitar Guild early last year, according to a biography on the music school's web site. The Ellisville-based school provides private and group instruction and also runs music summer camps.

Kovis, a jazz guitarist for three area bands, went to Meramec Community College and Webster University. He was a guitar player and bassist for First Baptist Church in Ellisville and a worship leader for Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Wildwood, according to the web site.

Kovis has been teaching guitar since 1997, including at the Tower Records in Fenton, Mozingo Music Ellisville, and Midwest Music Conservatory in Ballwin.

When he left Midwest Music to open his own music school, many of his students went with him — a testament to his teaching skills and way with youth, said Susan King, an office manager at the Ballwin conservatory.