For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q7511-1
July 5, 2011
EMPHASIS: 10 Traffic Deaths and No Boating Fatalities During July Fourth Weekend

Ten people died in traffic crashes during the 2011 July Fourth holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m., Friday, July 1, 2011, and ended at 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 4, 2011. The Missouri State Highway Patrol worked 259 crashes in which eight people died and 130 were injured. Troopers arrested 168 people for driving while intoxicated during this year’s holiday weekend. The Kansas City Police Department investigated two fatalities.

During last year’s counting period, troopers worked 281 traffic crashes in which six people died and 134 were injured. Statewide, in 2010, there were 1,121 traffic crashes, in which 13 people died and 472 were injured. Troopers made 169 driving while intoxicated arrests during the 2010 counting period.

There were no boating fatalities over the 2011 July Fourth weekend. However, troopers investigated ten boating crashes involving five injuries. One person drowned on Missouri waterways. Troopers also arrested 33 people for boating while intoxicated over the holiday weekend. During the 2010 July Fourth weekend, officers investigated 17 boating crashes, which included ten injuries and one fatality. Two people drowned and 40 people were arrested for boating while intoxicated during last year’s July Fourth weekend.

Of the eight fatalities investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, two fatalities occurred in each of the following troop areas: Troop A, Lee's Summit; Troop C, Weldon Spring; Troop E, Poplar Bluff; and Troop G, Willow Springs.

One fatality occurred on Friday, July 1, 2011. Hannah J. Kimble, 15, of Independence, MO, died when a vehicle crested a hill and struck her as she was standing in the left lane. The crash occurred on Interstate 470 at the 13.4 mile marker in Jackson County. Dr. Bixler pronounced Kimble dead at Centerpoint Hospital.

Four fatalities occurred on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Charlie S. Hammons, 93, and Essie P. Hammons, 87, both of Marston, MO, died when their vehicle pulled into the path of another vehicle. Both were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 60 at Missouri 114, in Stoddard County. Charlie Hammons was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital by Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton. Essie Hammons was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Aaron Mathis.

David A. Nelson, 22, of Theodosia, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off of the left side of the roadway and overturned in a ditch. Nelson was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected. The crash occurred on Missouri 95, one mile north of Theodosia, in Ozark County. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Ozark County Coroner Ron Mahan.

Jeffrey L. Johnson, 24, of Wright City, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating was being driven too fast for the road conditions and failed to negotiate a curve. Johnson was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on South Stracks Church Road, one mile east of Muse Road, in Warren County. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by Warren County Assistant Coroner Ralph Hellenbusch.

Three fatalities occurred on Sunday, July 3, 2011. Tylor W. Clark, 19, of Bosworth, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Clark was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected. The crash occurred on North Second Street, just north of Grossman Street in Carroll County. Clark was pronounced dead at the scene by Carroll County Coroner Steve Bitteker.

Kimberly A. Kraemer, 43, of St. Charles, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway. She overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide back across the roadway and overturn twice. Kraemer was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred on Missouri Route B, one-half mile east of New Town Boulevard, in St. Charles County. Kraemer was pronounced dead at the scene by Fire Chief/Paramedic Jeremy Hollorah.

Steve F. Smith, 38, of Independence, MO, died when the vehicle he was a passenger in was struck by another westbound vehicle that crossed the center line. Both vehicles traveled off the right side of the roadway. The other vehicle rolled over on top of the vehicle Smith was traveling in. Smith's seat belt use is unknown. The crash occurred on U.S. 60, two miles east of Winona, MO, in Shannon County. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by Shannon County Assistant Coroner Regina A. Voyles.

Two fatalities occurred on Monday, July 4, 2011. Diane K. Bronson, 41, and Anna Bronson, 11, of Belton, MO, died when their vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 435. Seat belt use is unknown. The crash occurred on Interstate 435 at Blue Parkway, in Jackson County. They were pronounced dead at the scene. This crash was investigated by the Kansas City Police Department.

The drowning over the July Fourth holiday occurred on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Eugene Smith, 26, of Dyersburg, TN, drowned while attempting to swim across the Current River, one and one-half miles north of Van Buren, MO, in Carter County. Witnesses reported Smith appeared to struggle halfway across the river in a swift current. Smith went under and did not resurface. The victim's body was recovered in 15 feet of water by divers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by Carter County Coroner Eric McSpadden.

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release may change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than traffic incident.

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