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. John J. Hotz
Q12282015-1 (573) 526-6115

December 28, 2015
EMPHASIS: Patrol Reports Two Fatalities; Seven Drownings Over Christmas Holiday Crash Counting Period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports two people died in traffic crashes and seven people drowned over the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Thursday, December 24, 2015 to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 27, 2015. During this year’s 78-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 282 traffic crashes, which included 78 injuries and the two fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 47 people for driving while intoxicated. There were no boating crashes. Seven people drowned after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters. The Patrol continues to investigate.

During last year’s 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 284 traffic crashes, which included 91 injuries and five of the 14 fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 66 people for driving while intoxicated in 2014. There were no boating crashes and no one drowned during the Christmas 2014 counting period.

The two fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, area, on Christmas Day, December 25, 2015. Alberto Arevalo, age unknown, of Berkeley, MO, and Danilo M. Magparangalan, 65, of Bridgeton, MO, died when the vehicle Arevalo was driving struck the vehicle Magparangalan was driving head-on. The crash occurred when Arevalo’s vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound driving lane of Interstate 70 in St. Louis County at Bermuda Avenue. St. Louis County Medical Examiner Lindsey Trammell pronounced both Arevalo and Magparangalan dead at the scene. Arevalo was not wearing a seat belt; Magparangalan was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Four passengers in Magparangalan’s vehicle sustained minor to serious injuries in the crash. One of the passengers was not wearing a seat belt; the other three passengers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Of the seven drownings, one occurred in the Troop D, Springfield, MO, area; the remaining six drownings occurred in the Troop I, Rolla, MO, area.

Six people drowned Saturday, December 26, 2015, in two separate incidents. Two people drowned after their vehicle was washed off Missouri Route O near Dixon, MO. No further details are available.

Four people drowned after their vehicle was washed off Missouri Route U near Crocker, MO. No further details are available.

One drowning occurred Sunday, December 27, 2015. Steven L. Welton, 42, of Springfield, MO, drowned after his vehicle was washed off Missouri Route CC at Simms Branch Creek in Greene County. Greene County Medical Examiner David Brown pronounced Welton dead at the scene.

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 to the media.

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