MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102

NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
Q7091 (573) 526-6115
July 6, 2009
EMPHASIS: Seven Deaths During July Fourth Weekend

Seven people died in traffic crashes during the 2009 July Fourth holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 2, 2009 and ended at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 5, 2009. The Missouri State Highway Patrol worked 317 crashes in which four people died and 134 were injured. The St. Robert Police Department investigated one fatality. St. Louis Police Department investigated one fatality. Lee’s Summit Police Department investigated one fatality. Troopers arrested 149 people for driving while intoxicated during this year’s holiday weekend. During last year’s counting period, 11 people died and 194 were injured in 382 traffic crashes statewide. Troopers made 195 driving while intoxicated arrests during the 2008 counting period.

Of the four fatalities investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, two occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, and one fatality occurred in each of the following: Troop C, St. Louis area and Troop H, St. Joseph area.

One fatality occurred on Friday, July 3, 2009. Tyler D. Wilson, 15, of Stewartsville, MO, died when the motorcycle he was riding and another vehicle met in the middle of the roadway on a curve. Wilson was ejected from the motorcycle. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, which occurred in Buchanan County on Missouri Route DD southwest of Gower, MO. Dr. Chau Nguyen pronounced Wilson dead at Heartland Regional Medical Center. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. He was not wearing a seat belt.

One fatality occurred on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Kyle A. Myers, 18, of Liberty, MO, died when the motorcycle he was riding struck a vehicle that turned into his path. The crash occurred in Clay County on County Road 164 at Ray Lee Drive. Myers was ejected; he was wearing a helmet. Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office Investigator Westlund pronounced Myers dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured; she was wearing a seat belt. Clay County deputies assisted at the scene.

Five fatalities occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2009. Ben William Schwab, 42, of St. Robert was walking across Missouri Avenue North in St. Robert, MO, when he was struck by a pickup. St. Robert Police Department investigated the crash.

Hayes N. Walker, 75, of Lee’s Summit, MO, died when a vehicle struck his motorized wheelchair. The crash occurred as he was traveling on the roadway on northwest Jacob Drive at northwest Chipman Road in Lee’s Summit. The other driver was not injured. Lee’s Summit Police Department investigated the crash.

Melvin D. Harris, 30, of St. Louis, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a mile-marker sign and a guardrail. Harris was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which occurred on Interstate 70 at mile-marker 246.2. Medical Examiner Meghan Wherley pronounced Harris dead. A passenger in Harris’ vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.

Christopher J. Harrington, 24, of Bismarck, MO, died when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. The vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Harrington was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. Washington County Coroner B. Declue pronounced Harrington dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Washington County on Missouri Highway 32 west of Carr Road.

Carl S. Rick, 35, of Wellington, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving travelled off the right side of the roadway, through the grass median, struck an embankment, then traveled across the south outer road, struck another embankment, and overturned before coming to rest on its wheels. Rick was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Lafayette County on the South Outer Road at Johnson Drive.

NOTE: 2009 fatality statistics may change due to late deaths. **This news release updated to show late deaths in 2008 statistic.**
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