NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact:
Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q12068
December 26, 2006
EMPHASIS: Five Fatalities Over Christmas Holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports five people died during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Friday, December 22, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 25, 2006. During this year’s 78-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 228 traffic crashes, which included 94 injuries and five fatalities. Troopers arrested 113 people for driving while intoxicated. During last year’s counting period, also 78 hours in length, troopers investigated 241 traffic crashes including 105 injuries. In 2005, troopers arrested 83 people for driving while intoxicated during the Christmas counting period.
Troopers worked all five fatality traffic crashes. Two of the fatalities occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area. One fatality occurred in each of the following troops: Troop D, Springfield area; Troop F, Jefferson City area; and Troop I, Rolla area.
No fatalities occurred within the counting period on Friday, December 22, 2006.
Two fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 23, 2006. Joseph T. Strong, 36, of House Springs, MO, died when he failed to yield to a red traffic signal. A vehicle struck the bicycle he was riding causing Strong to be ejected. The driver of the vehicle that struck Strong sustained minor injuries; he was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred at the intersection of Missouri Highway 30 and Gravois Road in Jefferson County. Dr. Kenneth Stine pronounced Strong dead at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.
John C. Foens, 39, of House Springs, MO, died when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, exited the left side of the roadway, and struck a tree. The two passengers with Foens sustained serious injuries in the crash. The crash occurred on Calvey Church Road east of Missouri Route HH in Franklin County. Dr. R. Gupta pronounced Foens dead at St. John’s Hospital.
One fatality occurred on December 24, 2006. Sally A. Rowe, 55, of Tulsa, OK, died when the vehicle she was driving was struck by a KC Southern train engine. Rowe’s vehicle was stopped in the middle of the railroad grade crossing at the time of the crash, which happened at the Carl Junction city limits on County Road 270 in Jasper County. Rowe was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Two fatalities occurred on Christmas Day, December 25, 2006. Billy J. Null, 55, of Dixon, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, skidded, and returned to the roadway at which time Null overcorrected. The vehicle left the roadway a second time, struck a mailbox, several trees, and fence posts before coming to rest. Null was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which occurred on Missouri Highway 28 south of Dixon in Pulaski County. Assistant Pulaski County Coroner Gary Carmack pronounced Null dead at the scene.
E. Louise Gray, 82, of Trenton, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to yield and was struck broadside by a second vehicle. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 63 at Dripping Springs Road in Boone County. A passenger in Gray’s vehicle sustained serious injuries; the driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries. Both were wearing a seat belt. Gray was not wearing a seat belt. Dr. Kessel pronounced Gray dead at University Hospital.