NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
120810
December 29, 2008
EMPHASIS: Patrol Reports 12 Traffic Fatalities Over Christmas Holiday

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 12 people died during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 24, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2008. The Patrol investigated 306 traffic crashes, which included all 12 fatalities and 128 injuries. Troopers arrested 83 people for driving while intoxicated over the 2008 Christmas holiday.
During last year’s counting period, the Patrol investigated 499 traffic crashes, which included 142 injuries and four of the eight fatalities. Troopers arrested 92 people for driving while intoxicated in 2007.

Of the 12 fatalities during the 2008 Christmas holiday, three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area, and Troop I, Rolla area; two fatalities occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, and Troop F, Jefferson City area; and one fatality occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area, and Troop E, Poplar Bluff area.

Two fatalities occurred on December 24, 2008. Kimberly E. Farrar, 24, of Cedar Hill, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck head on. The driver of the other vehicle was attempting to pass a third vehicle; she sustained moderate injuries in the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Route W, north of Byrnesville Road in Jefferson County. The driver of Farrar’s vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash. All three individuals were wearing their seat belts. Dr. John Kirby pronounced Farrar dead at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Cleveland B. Shipp, 69, of Greenville, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and he overcorrected. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Shipp was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. A passenger in Shipp’s vehicle sustained minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred on Route D, north of Wapappello, MO, in Wayne County. Wayne County Coroner Barbara Anderson pronounced Shipp dead at the scene.

Four fatalities occurred on Christmas Day, December 25, 2008. Lisa S. Burgdorf, 40, of Camdenton, MO, and Benjamin Z. Thompson, 19, of Laurie, MO, died when Burgdorf lost control of the vehicle she was driving. The vehicle crossed the centerline, traveled off the roadway, and overturned several times. Both Burgdorf and Thompson were ejected from the vehicle; neither was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Route A, south of Missouri Route E, in Camden County. Acting Coroner/Deputy John Stephens pronounced Burgdorf dead at the scene; Dr. Pibbs pronounced Thompson dead at St. John’s Hospital.

Margaret L. Mitchell, 73, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving struck another vehicle head on. At the time of the crash, Mitchell was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 at the 244.6-mile marker in Franklin County. Cathryn R. Houlihan, 20, of Pacific, MO, the driver of the second vehicle, also died in the crash. Mitchell was not wearing a seat belt. Houlihan was wearing a seat belt. Franklin County Medical Examiner Theresa Lustwerk pronounced both Mitchell and Houlihan dead at the scene.

Three fatalities occurred on Friday, December 26, 2008. Zachary E. West, 22, of Warsaw, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving turned from Winchester onto Missouri Route Y, in Pettis County, into the path of another vehicle. West’s vehicle was struck on the driver’s side. Dr. Proctor pronounced West dead at Bothwell Hospital. West was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured; she was wearing a seat belt.

Michael W. Flint, 20, of Salem, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck another vehicle head on. Flint was attempting to avoid a third vehicle, which was turning onto a county road and was not involved in the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 32 east of Salem, MO, in Dent County. Flint was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the vehicle Flint’s vehicle struck sustained serious injuries. He was wearing a seat belt. Dent County Coroner Eddie Wilson pronounced Flint dead at the scene.

Robert D. Binkley, 42, died when he attempted to change lanes and lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle then ran off the right side of the roadway, went airborne, and overturned several times before coming to rest on its wheels. Binkley was driving at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash, which occurred on Interstate 435 at Waldron in Platte County. Binkley was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Paramedic Mike Doyle pronounced Binkley dead at the scene.

Two fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2008. Levi R. Clark, 17, of Crocker, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head on. The driver of the second vehicle, Linda M. Wall, 63, of Richland, MO, also died in the crash. A passenger in Wall’s vehicle sustained moderate injuries. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 133 north of Richland, MO, in Pulaski County. Clark was not wearing a seat belt; Wall and her passenger were wearing seat belts. Pulaski County Coroner Mikel Hartness pronounced Clark dead at the scene. Dr. Chin pronounced Wall dead at General Leonard Wood Community Hospital.

One fatality occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2008. Bailey R. Mitchell, 18, of Marionville, MO, died when she lost control of the vehicle she was driving. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a tree. The crash occurred on County Road 1230 south of Marionville, MO in Lawrence County. Mitchell was not wearing a seat belt. Lawrence County Deputy Coroner Scott Lakin pronounced Mitchell dead at the scene.

Note: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out.

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