NEWS RELEASE





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Capt. Christian T. Ricks (573) 526-6115





EMPHASIS: Eight Fatalities Reported During Christmas Holiday Counting Period








The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports eight people died during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Friday, December 24, 2004 to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 26, 2004. During this year’s 54-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 137 traffic crashes, which included 82 injuries and all eight fatalities. Troopers arrested 32 people for driving while intoxicated. During last year’s 102-hour counting period, troopers investigated 254 traffic crashes, including 130 injuries. In 2003, 99 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated. There were nine fatalities during the 2003 Christmas holiday counting period.





Three of the eight fatalities occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area; two fatalities occurred in the Troop I, Rolla area, and one fatality occurred in the Troop A Lee’s Summit, Troop C, St. Louis, and Troop H, St. Joseph areas.





There was one fatality on Friday, December 24, 2004. Michelle L. Bailey, 20, of Strafford, MO, died when she swerved to avoid a vehicle turning left in front of her. The two vehicles crashed nearly head-on. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. Bailey was wearing a seat belt; it is unknown whether or not the other driver wore a seat belt. The crash occurred in Green County on Route WW, east of Springfield, MO. Dr. Huckfeldt pronounced Bailey dead at St. John’s Hospital.





Three people died on December 25, 2004. Joseph D. Stark, 47, of Decatur, IA, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the roadway, overturned twice, and came to rest on its wheels. Stark was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Mercer County on Bird Street north of Mercer, MO. Dr. Patel pronounced Stark dead at Heartland Regional Medical Center.





Michelle S. Rowden, 24, and Robert L. Rowden, 31, both of Cedar Hill, MO, died when a vehicle struck the Rowden's vehicle head-on. The crash occurred after the oncoming vehicle passed a third vehicle while traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 63. After passing the vehicle, the driver remained in the northbound lane and struck the Rowden vehicle head-on. Michelle was wearing a seat belt; it is unknown whether Robert wore a seat belt. A passenger in the Rowden vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries. The driver and passenger in the vehicle that struck the Rowden's vehicle sustained serious and moderate injuries, respectively. It is unknown whether or not they were wearing seat belts. The crash occurred in Phelps County at Beaver Creek Bridge, three miles south of Rolla, MO. Phelps County Coroner Larry Swinfard pronounced Michelle dead at the scene. Dr. Scott Baker at the University Medical Center in Columbia, MO, pronounced Robert dead the next day.





Four people died on December 26, 2004. Freddie B. Peebles, 69, of Clever, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the north side of the road and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Christian County on Jasmine Road, west of Clever, MO. Peebles was not wearing a seat belt. Christian County Coroner D. Adams pronounced Peebles dead at the scene.





Jana M. Crabtree, 22, of Lee’s Summit, MO, died when the vehicle she was in skidded off the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned before coming to rest on its top. Neither of the two persons in the vehicle wore a seat belt; both were ejected. The investigation continues in order to determine who was driving at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Johnson County on Northwest 200 Road east of U.S. Highway 71. Johnson County Coroner C.L. Holdren pronounced Crabtree dead at the scene.





Gordon C. Schokmiller, 46, of Lonedell, MO, died in a crash on private property near Little Indian Creek. Schokmiller was riding a 1995 Yamaha and attempting to climb a hill when he lost control of the vehicle and it overturned onto him. Michael Copeland of the medical examiner’s office pronounced Schokmiller dead at the scene.





Linda J. Gray, 56, of Mount Vernon, MO, died when she lost control of the vehicle she was driving, ran off the road, and struck a sign and tree. The crash occurred in Barry County on Missouri Highway 39, six miles north of Shell Knob, MO. Gray was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Assistant Barry County Coroner Eddie Davison pronounced Gray dead at the


scene.