NEWS RELEASE


For further information please contact:

Capt. Christian T. Ricks

(573) 526-6115


Q01061

January 2, 2006

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. on Friday, December 30, 2005 to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006. During this year’s 78-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 220 traffic crashes, which included 81 injuries and six of the fatalities. The other fatality was investigated by the St. Louis City Police Department. Troopers also arrested 151 people for driving while intoxicated. Last year, during a 78-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 166 traffic crashes, which included 77 injuries. In 2005, troopers arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated. During the 2005 New Year’s holiday counting period, 12 people died in traffic crashes.


Of the six fatality crashes the Patrol investigated, three occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area; two occurred in the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area; and one occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area. The St. Louis Police Department investigated one fatality.


Five people died on December 31, 2005. Earl L. Zimmerman, 80, and Ruby M. Zimmerman, 84, both of Marshall, MO, died when Mr. Zimmerman failed to yield at a railroad crossing and the truck he was driving was struck by a train. The intersection was marked by a crossbuck sign. The crash occurred in Saline County on County Road 103, north of County Road 138. Neither of the Zimmermans was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Saline County Coroner Willie Harlow pronounced both of the Zimmermans dead at the scene.


Melissa J. Day, 29, of Poplar Bluff, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the left side of the roadway, and overturned. Day was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected. The crash occurred in Butler County on Missouri Route T, five miles from Poplar Bluff. Butler County Assistant Coroner Bruce Goin pronounced Day dead at the scene.


Michael R. Marolf, 58, of Wilton, Iowa, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled across the median, crossed the northbound lanes of Interstate 55, ran off the roadway, and overturned down an embankment. Marolf was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Pemiscot County Coroner Jim Brimhall pronounced Marolf dead at the scene. The crash took place in Pemiscot County, on I-55, three miles south of Hayti, MO.


Viveca Neely, 41, of St. Louis County, MO, died when she was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 64. Neely was outside her vehicle, standing near its left rear, when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The oncoming vehicle then began rotating clockwise in the lane and was struck by a third vehicle. Neely was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The St. Louis Police Department investigated this crash.


One fatality occurred on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2006. Muriel L. Dhaene, 72, of Adrian, MO, died when she drove her vehicle into the path of an oncoming car. Dhaene was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest in the median. The driver of the second vehicle and a passenger were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The driver sustained moderate injuries; the passenger sustained minor injuries. The crash occurred in Bates County on U.S. Highway 71 at County Road 15504. The Bates County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.

Dr. John Webb at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, pronounced Dhaene dead.


One fatality occurred on January 2, 2006. Edward H. Strother, 17, of Kirkwood, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving began skidding and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle hit an embankment and began overturning. Strother was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. St. Louis Medical Examiner Payne pronounced Strother dead at the scene. The crash occurred in St. Louis County, on westbound Interstate 44 east of Big Bend Boulevard.