For further information please contact:
Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115

EMPHASIS: Patrol Reports Eight Fatalities During New Year’s Counting Period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports eight people died during the New Year’s holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2006 to 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 1, 2007. During this year’s 78-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 247 traffic crashes, which included 109 injuries and all eight fatalities. Troopers also arrested 132 people for driving while intoxicated. Last year, the Patrol investigated 220 traffic crashes, including 81 injuries. There were eight fatalities during the last year’s New Year’s holiday. Troopers arrested 151 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s counting period, which was also 78 hours in length.

Of the eight fatalities, two occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area, Troop H, St. Joseph area, and Troop I, Rolla area. One fatality occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, and Troop D, Springfield area.

Two people died on Friday, December 29, 2006. Justin R. Baker, 19, of Stella, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, struck a pile of utility poles, and overturned. Baker was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in McDonald County on Harrell Road south of Rocky Comfort. McDonald County Coroner William J. Goodwin pronounced Baker dead at the scene.

Matthew R. Bozarth, 23, of Richmond, KS, died when the vehicle he was driving sideswiped a second vehicle, traveled off the side of the roadway, crossed the median, entered the southbound lanes of Interstate 35, and was struck broadside by a third vehicle. The crash occurred in Clay County on Interstate 35 just north of Missouri Highway 152. Bozarth was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle sideswiped by Bozarth was not injured. The driver and a passenger in the vehicle that struck Bozarth’s vehicle sustained moderate and serious injuries, respectively. Both were wearing seat belts. Jackson County Medical Investigator Gerald White pronounced Bozarth dead at the scene.


One fatality occurred on Saturday, December 30, 2006. Beverly L. Wren, 34, of Bonne Terre, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway and she overcorrected, causing the vehicle to drive off the right side of the road, strike a tree, and overturn. Wren was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in St. Francois County on Berry Road two miles north of Cash Lane. St. Francois County Coroner pronounced Wren dead at the scene.

Three fatalities occurred on Sunday, December 31, 2006. Dale K. Weber, 62, and Forrest E. Weber, 65, both of Menasha, WI, died when their vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 35 north of Bethany in Harrison County. The crash occurred after a driver traveling south lost control, crossed the median, and came to rest in the northbound lanes of I-35. A tractor-trailer then struck both that vehicle and the Weber vehicle. Harrison County Coroner Jeremy Eivins pronounced Dale and Forrest Weber dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck them sustained minor injuries. All were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Taylor R. Hatcher, 9, of Normandy, MO, died when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger lost control on rain slicked asphalt, rotated counterclockwise, and slid off the left side of the roadway striking a guardrail. The crash occurred on Interstate 70 at the Missouri Highway 170 exit in St. Louis County. Dr. A. Martin pronounced Hatcher dead at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, MO. Both the driver and Hatcher were wearing seat belts.

Two people died on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2007. Donald D. Leinweber, 60, of Novi, MI, and Kenneth J. Penberty, 50, of Warren, MI, died when the vehicle in which they were passengers traveled into the median. The driver of the vehicle overcorrected, causing the vehicle to return to the roadway and overturn. The traffic crash occurred in Crawford County on Interstate 44 four miles west of Cuba, MO. Penberty was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Leinweber and the driver were wearing seat belts. The driver sustained moderate injuries. Crawford County Coroner Paul Hutson pronounced Leinweber and Penberty dead at the scene.

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Tuesday, January 02, 2007