NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact:
Capt. Christian T. Ricks (573) 526-6115
05055
May 31, 2005
EMPHASIS: Eight Fatalities Occur Over Memorial Day Holiday
Eight people died in traffic crashes over the 2005 Memorial Day weekend. Last year, 15 people were killed during the three-day weekend. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 347 traffic crashes resulting in 194 injuries and seven fatalities during the counting period of 6 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2004 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2005. The Lake Ozark Police Department investigated the remaining fatality. During this same counting period, 177 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated. During the 2004 Memorial Day weekend, 165 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Of the seven fatalities investigated by troopers, two occurred in both the Troop C (St. Louis area) and the Troop D (Springfield area); one occurred in the Troop A (Lee’s Summit area), Troop E (Poplar Bluff area), and Troop F (Jefferson City area).
Three people died on Saturday, May 28, 2005. James M. Henkel, 50, of Warsaw, MO, died when the motorcycle he was driving ran off the roadway and struck a sign. Henkel was ejected. The crash occurred in Henry County on Route 7 at County Road NW 1101.
A three-vehicle crash in Dade County on U.S. Highway 160 east of Greenfield, MO, claimed the lives of two people. Douglas E. Tinker, 52, of Everton, MO, and Diana I. Canney, 54, of Mindenmines, MO, died when the vehicle Tinker was driving went off the roadway and he over corrected, causing his vehicle to sideswipe a second vehicle before striking a third vehicle head-on. Canney was a passenger in Tinker’s vehicle. Two other passengers sustained injuries. The drivers of the other two vehicles sustained moderate injuries. It is unknown whether or not Tinker and Canney were wearing seat belts.
Four people died on Sunday, May 29, 2005. Desirea R. Walker, 13, of Mexico, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger ran off the left side of the road, went airborne, struck an embankment, and overturned. She was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Audrain County on U.S. Highway 54 west of Mexico, MO. The driver of the vehicle and five additional passengers sustained serious injuries in the crash. None of them were wearing a seat belt.
Nykyiah A. Linnear, 6, of Chicago, IL, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger swerved to avoid debris in the roadway, after which the driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to travel off the roadway into the median and overturn. The driver and four additional passengers sustained serious injuries in the crash. All occupants of the vehicle were wearing seat belts. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Interstate 55 north of U.S. Highway 61.
Ronnie King, 40, of New Madrid, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on. The driver of the vehicle was ejected and sustained serious injuries; King was partially ejected. Neither was using a seat belt. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. The driver was wearing a seat belt; the passenger was not.
Dennis D. England, 59, of Independence, MO, died in a crash on Valley Road in the city of Lake Ozark in Miller County. England was found under his motorcycle. Miller County Coroner Rick Callahan pronounced England dead at the scene. The Lake Ozark Police Department investigated the crash.
One person died on Monday, May 30, 2005. Edward L. Fowler, 40, Irondale, MO, died when his vehicle traveled off the road, he overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn. Fowler was not wearing a seat belt. Three passengers sustained injuries in the crash, all were wearing seat belts.