For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q01081
January 2, 2008

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports seven people died during the New Year’s holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2007 to 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, January 1, 2008. During this year’s 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 333 traffic crashes, which included 104 injuries and six of the fatalities. Troopers also arrested 123 people for driving while intoxicated. Last year’s counting period was 78 hours in length--the Patrol investigated 247 traffic crashes, which included 109 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers arrested 132 people for driving while intoxicated last year.

Of the six fatalities troopers investigated, two occurred in the Troop B, Macon area. One fatality occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area, the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area, the Troop F, Jefferson City area, and the Troop H, St. Joseph area. The St. Louis City Police Department investigated one fatality.

No fatalities occurred on Friday, December 28, 2007, during the New Year’s counting period.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, December 29, 2007. Whitney N. Garnett, 21, of Atlanta, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger ran off the left side of the road into the median and overturned several times. The driver of the vehicle and Garnett were ejected. The driver sustained serious injuries; a second passenger sustained minor injuries. None of the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 63 south of Atlanta, MO, in Macon County. Macon County Coroner Brian Hayes pronounced Garnett dead at the scene.

George W. Cowen, 22, of Lake Ozark, MO, died when the motorcycle he was driving struck the rear of a vehicle. Cowen and a passenger were ejected. The passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 54 west of Missouri Route M in Miller County. Dr. Kraatz at University Hospital in Columbia, MO, pronounced Cowen dead. Both Cowan and his passenger were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

Two people died Sunday, December 30, 2007. Harrison D. Cole, 16, of Park Hills, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve and overturned. Neither Cole nor a passenger in his vehicle was wearing a seat belt; both were ejected. The crash occurred on Missouri Route D at Missouri Route HH in Ste. Genevieve County. St. Francois County paramedics pronounced Cole dead.

Tommie L. Maxwell, 62, of Howardville, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger struck a ditch and overturned. Maxwell was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. The crash occurred in New Madrid County on Missouri Route M south of Marston, MO. New Madrid County Coroner Jimmy McSpadden pronounced Maxwell dead at the scene.

No traffic crash fatalities occurred on December 31, 2007.

Three people died on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2008. Marvin L. Coldiron, 43, of Bogard, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and overturned into a creek where it came to rest on its top. Coldiron was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Caldwell County on Northeast Low Water Drive northeast of Braymer, MO. Caldwell County Coroner Gary Brown pronounced Coldiron dead at the scene. Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department and the Braymer Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Michael L. Rick, 29, of Cordova, IL, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline and ran off the roadway. The vehicle then hit an embankment and began overturning. Rick was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Macon County on Missouri Route PP east of Minks Drive. Dr. Berman pronounced Rick dead at Samaritan Hospital.

Amanda Wright, 22, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and struck a tree. Wright was not wearing a seat belt. EMS personnel pronounced Wright dead at the scene. The crash occurred on Loughborough Drive in St. Louis. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.

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.