NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact:
Capt. J.T. “Tim” Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q9061
September 5, 2006
EMPHASIS: 13 People Die In Traffic Crashes During Labor Day Holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 13 fatalities during the 2006 Labor Day holiday. Last year, there were 11 fatalities. The 2006 counting period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, September 1, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 4, 2006. During this period, the Patrol investigated 309 traffic crashes, which included 160 injuries and 12 fatalities. St. Louis City Police Department investigated one fatality. Troopers made 172 arrests for driving while intoxicated in 2006, compared to 177 arrests last year.
Of the 12 fatalities troopers investigated, four occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area; two each occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area, Troop F, Jefferson City, area; and one each occurred in Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, Troop B, Macon area, Troop E, Poplar Bluff area, and Troop I, Rolla area.
One person died on Friday, September 1, 2006. Dustin T. McIntire, 23, of Monett, MO, died when he fell from the back of a pickup truck traveling on Eisenhouer Street north of Monett, MO, in Lawrence County. County Coroner Don Lakin pronounced McIntire dead at 10:55 p.m. There were no other injuries.
Four people died on Saturday, September 2, 2006. Cole S. Nilges, 2, of Koeltztown, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger swerved in front of another vehicle on County Road 521 east of Route T in Osage County. The crash occurred when the driver of the vehicle was attempting to restrain Nilges and swerved into the path of the second vehicle. Nilges was not wearing a seat belt. There were no other injuries in the crash. Dr. Perry at University Hospital pronounced Nilges dead at 4:53 p.m.
Paul J. Bonugli, 49, of St. Louis, MO, died when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Bonugli was ejected and landed against a tree 20 feet away. The motorcycle came to rest in a field. The crash occurred five miles south of Dixon, MO, on Missouri Highway 28 in Pulaski County. Dr. Linda Morgan, Phelps Regional Medical Center, pronounced Bonugli dead at 4:41 p.m.
Kathy S. Tackett, 43, of Henrietta, MO, died when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle exited the roadway, struck a ditch, and came to rest on its side. Neither the driver nor Tackett were wearing a seat belt. Tackett was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred on 108th street at McAfee Road in Ray County. The driver sustained minor injuries. Acting Coroner Sam Clemens pronounced Tackett dead at the scene at 10:41 p.m.
Gerald A. Andrews, 47, of Edmond, OK, died when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway, he over-corrected, and lost control. The vehicle rolled across the median. Both Andrews and a passenger were ejected. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The crash occurred on Interstate 55 at the 127-mile marker in Perry County. Neither Andrews nor his passenger were wearing a seat belt. Perry County Coroner Herb Miller pronounced Andrews dead at the scene at 11:45 p.m.
Four people died on Sunday, September 3, 2006. Shane A. Cook, 20, of Bois D’Arc, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck a guardrail and concrete bridge abutment. The vehicle then traveled down a steep embankment and overturned. Cook was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 266 west of Springfield, in Greene County. County Coroner David Brown pronounced Cook dead at the scene.
Wendy L. Kelsheimer, 31, of Leadington, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, she overcorrected to the left, crossed the centerline, and struck another vehicle. Kelsheimer overcorrected a second time, causing the vehicle to travel off the right side of the roadway and strike and embankment. The vehicle overturned, ejecting Kelsheimer, who was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred on Highway W at Chalkhill Road in St. Francois County. The driver of the vehicle Kelsheimer’s vehicle struck was not injured; she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. St. Francois County Assistant Corner Armstrong pronounced Kelsheimer dead at the scene.
Casie L. Price, 18, ;of Jefferson City, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger left the road, traveled into the median, and struck an embankment. The vehicle then became airborne and struck a bridge pillar. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 54 at Route J in Callaway County. Both the driver and passenger were wearing seat belts. The driver sustained serious injuries. Medical Examiner Dori Burke pronounced Price dead at the scene at 6:03 p.m.
Julio C. Castillo, 20, of Arbyrd, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head on. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 412 south of Cardwell in Dunklin County. Castillo and three passengers were not wearing seat belts. The three passengers sustained serious and moderate injuries. The driver of the vehicle Castillo’s vehicle struck was wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries. Dunklin County Coroner Jack Adkins pronounced Castillo dead at the scene at 9:05 p.m.
Four people died on Monday, September 4, 2006. Jason J. Schamburg, 31, and Amy E. Schamburg, 31, both of Perryville, MO, died when the motorcycle they were riding failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, and struck a vehicle head on. The crash occurred on Route O east of PCR 626 in Perry County. The driver of the vehicle Schamburg’s motorcycle struck was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Perry County Coroner Herb Miller pronounced both Jason and Amy Schamburg dead at the scene.
Linda S. Minear, 55, of Hannibal, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the east side of the roadway, struck a culvert, traveled back onto the road, and overturned several times before coming to rest on its wheels off the west side of the roadway. Minear was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Route F south of Missouri Highway 19 in Ralls County. County Coroner Woody St. Clair pronounced Minear dead at the scene at 5:15 p.m.
Simone Lee, 37, of St. Louis, died when a vehicle struck her while she was standing near the west side of the street. The crash occurred on Ninth Street in St. Louis. She was transported to St. Louis University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. There were no other injuries in this crash. This crash was investigated by the St. Louis City Police Department.