NEWS RELEASE



For further information please contact: Capt. Christian T. Ricks (573) 526-6115



Q11053

November 28, 2005

Emphasis: Seventeen Fatalities Over 2005 Thanksgiving Holiday





The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 17 people died during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2005 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 27, 2005. The Highway Patrol investigated 13 fatalities; Springfield Police Department investigated two fatalities; and Columbia Police Department investigated two fatalities. This year, the Patrol investigated 397 traffic crashes, which included 180 injuries. Troopers also arrested 139 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2004, troopers investigated 416 traffic crashes including 128 injuries. There were 116 people arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2004. (Statewide, there were 13 people killed in Missouri during the 2004 Thanksgiving holiday.)



Of the 13 fatalities investigated by troopers, three occurred in the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area and the Troop F, Jefferson City area; two occurred in the Troop B, Macon area, the Troop C, St. Louis area, and the Troop D, Springfield area; and one occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area.



One fatal crash occurred on Wednesday, November 23, 2005. Anthony M. Barker, 17, of Festus, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck another vehicle head-on near the centerline. Dr. Shrestha at St. Johns Mercy Hospital pronounced Barker dead. A passenger in Barker’s vehicle, Victoria L. Dunn, 16, of Crystal City, MO, was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS personnel. The driver and passenger in the oncoming vehicle sustained serious injuries. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 61 in Jefferson County. All four persons were wearing a seat belt.



One fatal crash occurred on Thursday, November 24, 2005. Anita A. Zeno, 57, of Camdenton, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving collided head-on with a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Montgomery County. A passenger, Richard T. Simmons, 61, of Camdenton, MO, also died in the crash. The driver of the vehicle that struck Zeno’s vehicle was ejected and sustained serious injuries. A third vehicle was sideswiped in the crash. No other injuries were reported. Montgomery County Coroner Dave Colbert pronounced Zeno dead at the scene. Dr. Miedema pronounced Simmons dead at University Hospital. The driver of the sideswiped vehicle, Zeno, and Simmons were all wearing a seat belt. The ejected driver was not wearing a seat belt.



One fatal crash occurred on Friday, November 25, 2005. Lonnie K. Jones, 56, of Kewanee, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. The crash occurred in New Madrid County on Route W west of Kewanee. New Madrid Coroner Jimmy McSpadden pronounced Jones dead at the scene. Jones was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.



Four fatal crashes occurred on Saturday, November 26, 2005. Davin G. Fohey, 24, of Palmyra, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway and he overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide across the roadway and overturn before coming to rest on its wheels. Marion County Coroner Peggy Porter pronounced Fohey dead at the scene. A passenger, Garet W. Slavin, 21, Palmyra, MO, was pronounced dead by Dr. Raleigh at Hannibal Regional Hospital. Both Fohey and Slavin were ejected from the vehicle; neither wore a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 168 north of Hannibal. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Palmyra Rural Fire Department, and Hannibal Rural Fire Department responded to the scene.



Quint L. Huffman, 39, Fulton, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Dade County Coroner Mark White pronounced Huffman dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Dade County on County Road 207 north of Everton, MO. Huffman was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.



Tammy A. Miles, 39, of New Florence, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on. A passenger in Miles’ vehicle sustained serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries; a passenger, Terry R. Voyles, 52, of Mabelvale, AR, was killed. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. It is unknown whether or not the other three persons involved in the crash were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Butler County on U.S. Highway 67 at County Road 521. The Butler County Sheriff’s Department and Butler County Fire Department responded to the scene.



William R. Myers, 25, of Springfield, MO, died when an unknown vehicle turned left in front of him. Myers was riding a motorcycle at the time of the crash. He locked its brakes, lost control, and was ejected from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at St. Johns Hospital. Myers wore helmet at the time of the crash. Springfield Police Department continues their investigation of this crash, which occurred in Green County at Battlefield Road and Fremont Street in Springfield, MO.



Five fatal crashes occurred on Sunday, November 27, 2005. Jon Bauer, 58, and Juanita Bauer, 59, both of Springfield, MO, died when the vehicle Jon Bauer was driving sideswiped a second vehicle, traveled off the roadway, and crashed into a concrete wall and utility pole. The two people in the other vehicle were uninjured in the crash, which occurred in Greene County on Glenstone in Springfield. Both vehicles were traveling southbound. All involved parties were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.



Edward Peterson, 33, of Dadeville, MO, died when he was struck by oncoming traffic. Peterson was attempting to repair a flat tire and walked into oncoming traffic. The crash occurred in Camden County on Highway 54 west of County Road 5487.



Bradley S. Jones, 22, of Branson, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway and struck a tree. Stone County Coroner Rick Stumpf pronounced Jones dead at the scene. Jones was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Stone County on Missouri Highway 176 west of Abesville, MO. Highlandville Fire Department and Stone County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.



Richard C. Greenplate, 34, of Columbia, MO, died when another vehicle collided head-on with the vehicle Greenplate was driving. The crash occurred in Boone County on Missouri Highway TT at Missouri Highway ZZ. The driver of the other vehicle and two passengers were transported to University Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The Columbia Police Department investigated the crash. Seat belt statistics were unavailable at press time.



Christopher S. Crum, 21, of Columbia, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and struck trees and pedestrian barriers. The crash occurred in Boone County on Old Highway 63 in Columbia, MO. It was reported Crum’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed. Crum was ejected from the vehicle. A passenger in Crum’s vehicle survived the crash. The Columbia Police Department investigated the crash. Seat belt statistics were unavailable at press time.



The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur.