NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact:
Capt. Christian T. Ricks
(573) 526-6115
Q9051
September 6, 2005
EMPHASIS: 12 People Die In Traffic Crashes During Labor Day Holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 12 fatalities during the 2005 Labor Day holiday. Last year, there were 20 fatalities. The 2005 counting period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, September 2, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 5, 2005. During this period, the Patrol investigated 259 traffic crashes, which included 142 injuries and the 12 fatalities. Troopers made 177 driving while intoxicated arrests in 2005 compared to 144 arrests last year.
Of the 12 fatalities, three occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, and Troop C, St. Louis, areas; two occurred in the Troop F, Jefferson City, area; and one each occurred in Troop B, Macon, Troop D, Springfield, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop I, Rolla, areas.
Four people died on Friday, September 2, 2005. Stephen A. Coppock, 43, of Trenton, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head on. The crash occurred in Sullivan County on Missouri Highway 6 west of Humphreys. Coppock was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dr. Danks at Kansas University Medical Center pronounced Coppock dead. The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle sustained serious and moderate injuries, respectively. Both were wearing their seat belt. The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Grundy County Ambulance, Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, and Galt Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.
Rickie P. Shelton, 30, of Pacific, MO, died when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve, overturned, and was ejected into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The crash occurred in Franklin County, on Route AT, east of Highway 50. Union paramedics pronounced Shelton dead at the scene.
James M. Houston, 47, of Waynesville, MO, died when he drove off the right side of the roadway and struck a light pole. The vehicle then came back onto part of the roadway and overturned. Houston was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred in Pulaski County on Route W, east of Richland, MO. Dr. Roger Huckfeldt pronounced Houston dead at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, MO. Pulaski County Fire, Pulaski County REACT, and Waynesville Fire Department also responded to the scene.
Ricky A. Seiner, 53, of Bolivar, MO, died when a vehicle struck him. Seiner, a Polk County Ambulance employee, was working at a previous traffic crash when he was struck. The crash occurred in Polk County on Missouri Highway 13, south of Humansville, MO. Dr. Christopher Chase pronounced Seiner dead at the scene. Polk County Coroner Nathan Hoffer, Humansville and Dunnigan Fire and Rescue also assisted at the scene.
Five people died on Saturday, September 3, 2005. Brent A. Robinson, 22, of Dexter, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving in a curve, ran off the right side of the road, overturned, and struck a tree. Robinson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected. Stoddard County Coroner Morgan Sifford pronounced Robinson dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Stoddard County on County Road 607, south of Dexter, MO.
Kris E. Peuster, 44, of Marshall, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line and struck another vehicle nearly head on. The crash occurred in Saline County on Missouri Highway 240, at County Road 213. A passenger in Peuster’s vehicle sustained serious injuries; neither were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Thomas W. Marshall, 65, of Marshall, MO, the driver of the vehicle Peuster’s vehicle struck, also died in the crash. Saline County Coroner Harlow pronounced Marshall dead at the scene. Marshall was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Saline County deputies and the Staff For Life air ambulance also responded to the scene. Dr. Markley pronounced Peuster dead at University Hospital in Columbia, MO.
William F. Fields, 28, of Barnhart, MO, died when he lost control of his motorcycle, traveled off the right side of the road, and struck an electronic traffic monitoring post. Fields was performing motorcycle stunts at the time of the crash, which took place in St. Louis County on Interstate 270. Medical Examiner Payne pronounced Fields dead at the scene.
Jesus M. Martinez, 23, of Kansas City, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, and vaulted in the air, landing on some rocks. Martinez was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred in Clay County on Interstate 435. Jackson County Medical Examiner Curtis Boyd pronounced Martinez dead at the scene.
Three people died on Sunday, September 4, 2005. Matthew G. Beseau, 21, and Trent Hearn, 21, both of Shawnee, KS, died when their vehicle ran off the left side of the road in a curve and struck a tree. Beseau was driving at the time of the crash. Neither Beseau nor Hearn was wearing a seat belt; Beseau was partially ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Camden County at Shawnee Bend #3, north of Missouri Route M. Acting Camden County Coroner Mike Schmidt pronounced both men dead.
Alfred W. Shaper, 61, of Arnold, MO, died when he failed to negotiate a sharp, right-hand curve. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and down a steep embankment. Shaper was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Ste. Genevieve County Coroner Leo Basler pronounced Shaper dead at the scene.