NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. Christian T. Ricks
Q9041 (573) 526-6115
September 7, 2004
EMPHASIS: 15 Fatalities Occur During Labor Day Weekend
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports there were 15 fatalities during the 2004 Labor Day holiday weekend. Last year, there were 14 fatalities during the counting period. During the 2004 counting period of 6 p.m., September 3, through 11:59 p.m., September 6, the Patrol investigated 307 traffic crashes including 164 injuries. Troopers made 144 driving while intoxicated arrests during the 2004 Labor Day holiday weekend. Last year, troopers arrested 153 persons for driving while intoxicated.
Of the 15 fatalities, four occurred in Troop H, St. Joseph area; three occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, and Troop D, Springfield area; two occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area; and one occurred in both the Troop B, Macon area, and Troop G, Willow Springs area. The Patrol investigated 13 of the 15 fatality traffic crashes. The St. Louis City Police Department and the Bolivar Police Department each investigated one fatal traffic crash during the holiday weekend.
Two people died on Friday, September 3, 2004. Chasity L. Wentz, 29, of St. Clair, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger struck the rear of another vehicle, which had stopped to turn left. The crash occurred in Franklin County on Missouri Highway 47 at Commercial Drive. The driver and another passenger in the vehicle Wentz was in sustained moderate and serious injuries, respectively. Both were wearing a seat belt. Wentz was not wearing a seat belt. Major Copeland, Franklin County assistant medical examiner, pronounced Wentz dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, which was stopped, was not injured; he was wearing a seat belt.
A pedestrian, Karen M. Debruin, 42, of St. Clair, MO, died when she crossed into the path of a vehicle. The crash occurred in Franklin County on Mill Hill Road west of Route TT. Major Copeland, Franklin County assistant medical examiner, pronounced Debruin dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck Debruin was not injured.
Five people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, September 4, 2004. Ryen J. Wegenka, 19, of Cameron, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving went off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle traveled down an embankment and struck a ditch. The traffic crash occurred on Interstate 35 one mile north of Cameron, MO, in Dekalb County. Wegenka was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at Cameron Regional Hospital.
Kenny A. Hansen, 22, of Grant City, MO, died when the vehicle he was in ran off the right side of the road, struck a tree, and came to rest over an embankment. Hansen was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Worth County on Missouri Highway 46 in Grant City, MO. Worth County Coroner Gary Hann pronounced Hansen dead at the scene. The Worth County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.
Willis H. Norris, 76, of Independence, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck another vehicle nearly head on. Both vehicles then traveled off the roadway. The crash occurred in Livingston County on County Road 306 west of Bedford, MO. Norris was not wearing a seat belt. Livingston County Deputy Coroner Robin Fender pronounced Norris dead at Hedrick Medical Center. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured in the crash. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.
Allen N. Rosenbohm, 40, of Rockport, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway and struck a ditch. His vehicle then rolled, ejecting Rosenbohm. The crash occurred in Atchison County on Road E north of Phelps City, MO. Rosenbohm was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Deputy Coroner Shawn Minter pronounced Rosenbohm dead. The Atchison County Sheriff’s Department and Rockport Police Department assisted at the scene.
Brian L. Lawson, 28, of Mountain View, MO, died when he lost control of the ATV he was driving, ran off the right side of the roadway, and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Texas County on Stillhouse Road northwest of Mountain View, MO. Texas County Coroner Tom Whitaker pronounced Lawson dead at the scene.
Five people died on Sunday, September 5, 2004. William J. Dinges, 26, of Pleasant Hill, MO, died when his motorcycle struck a deer and overturned. The crash occurred in St. Clair County on Route ZZ north of Iconium, MO. Flight Paramedic Dustin Gannon pronounced Dinges dead.
Carrie A. Goodwin, 26, of Eldorado Springs, MO, died the vehicle she was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. Goodwin was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Vernon County on Missouri Highway 54 east of Nevada, MO. Vernon County Assistant Coroner Lawrence Joggerst pronounced Goodwin dead.
Buddy E. Fillpot, 24, of Rich Hill, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the left side of the roadway, went over a crossover, and returned to the roadway. The vehicle then traveled off the right side, struck a ditch, and overturned. Fillpot was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected. The vehicle continued to overturn, struck a fence, and came to rest on its top. The crash occurred in Bates County on U.S. Highway 71 at Muddy Creek. Bates County Assistant Coroner Gary Martin pronounced Fillpot dead. The Rich Hill Police Department assisted at the scene.
Cody S. Prewitt, 16, of Harrisonville, MO, died when his vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the east side of the roadway, struck a ditch, overturned, and impacted a utility pole. Prewitt was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Cass County on Missouri Highway 7 south of 235th Street. Prewitt was pronounced dead at North Kansas City Hospital. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.
Damond L. Hunter, 24, of St. Louis, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. Hunter entered an intersection at a high rate of speed, lost control, and struck an electrical signal mounted on the median. Hunter was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred on S. Grand in St. Louis, MO. The crash was investigated by the St. Louis City Police Department.
Three people died on Monday, September 6, 2004. Nicole S. Reinert, 21, of Kansas City, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving drifted into the median and struck a bridge abutment. The crash occurred in Saline County on Interstate 70 at the 77 mile-marker. A passenger in the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected, and sustained serious injuries. Reinert was not wearing a seat belt. Acting Coroner Deputy Jason Higgins pronounced Reinert dead at the scene.
Francis J. Farris, 18, of Canton, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger crossed the center line while negotiating a curve. A trailer being towed by the vehicle became separated. The vehicle traveled off the roadway, overturned, and came to rest on its top. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger sustained moderate injuries. It is unknown whether or not the vehicle’s occupants were wearing seat belts. The crash occurred in Schuyler County on Route A south of Downing, MO. Schuyler County Coroner Doug Norman pronounced Farris dead at the scene. The Adair County Sheriff’s Department, Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department, Adair County Ambulance, and the Adair County Eastern Rural Fire Department responded to the scene.
The Bolivar Police Department investigated a fatality traffic crash on September 6, 2004. No information was available at press time.