NEWS RELEASE



For further information please contact:

Capt. Tim H. Hull

Q110612

(573) 526-6115



November 27, 2006

Emphasis: Eleven Fatalities Over 2006 Thanksgiving Holiday





The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 11 people died during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2006 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2006. The Highway Patrol investigated 10 of the fatalities; Florissant Police Department investigated one fatality. This year, the Patrol investigated 327 traffic crashes, which included 153 injuries. Troopers also arrested 156 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2005, troopers investigated 397 traffic crashes including 180 injuries. There were 139 people arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2005. (Statewide, there were 19 people killed in Missouri during the 2005 Thanksgiving holiday.)



Of the 10 fatalities investigated by troopers, four occurred in the Troop H, St. Joseph area; two occurred in the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area; and one fatality each occurred in the Troop B, Macon area, Troop C, St. Louis area, Troop D, Springfield area, and Troop G, Willow Springs area.



There were no fatalities during the counting period on Wednesday, November 22, 2006.



Three fatalities occurred on Thursday, November 23, 2006. Mabel L. Jeffers, 69, of Reeds, MO, was killed when the vehicle she was driving was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. The crash occurred on eastbound Missouri Highway 96 east of Carthage in Jasper County. A passenger in Jeffers’ vehicle sustained minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle that struck Jeffers’ vehicle sustained minor injuries. All three persons were wearing seat belts.



Joseph E. Estes, 28, and Richa U. Estes, 26, of St. Joseph, MO, were killed in a traffic crash on Interstate 29 at the 37 mile-marker south of St. Joseph in Buchanan County. The crash occurred when J.E. Estes lost control of the vehicle he was driving. It traveled off the right side of the roadway, he overcorrected causing the vehicle to cross both northbound lanes and the median. It then traveled under the median cable barrier and was struck by another vehicle. Both vehicles traveled off the right side of the southbound lanes of I-29. Both fatalities were pronounced at the scene by Heartland Ambulance personnel. The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries in the crash. All three persons were wearing seat belts.





Three fatalities occurred on Friday, November 24, 2006. Robert A. Fangohr, 22, of Leavenworth, KS, and Dustin K. Underwood, 21, of Dekalb, MO, died when Underwood lost control of the vehicle he was driving, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The crash occurred on Southwest Old North Road in Rushville, MO, in Buchanan County. Both Fangohr and Underwood were pronounced dead at the scene by Heartland Regional Ambulance personnel. Both Fangohr and Underwood were wearing seat belts.



Corene D. Stamp, 89, of Macon, MO, sustained serious injuries when the vehicle in which she was a passenger left the roadway and struck a culvert. Stamp died later at Samaritan Memorial Hospital. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 151 north of Leonard in Shelby County. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries. Both persons were wearing seat belts. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.



Two fatal crashes occurred on Saturday, November 25, 2006. Jacob R. Yeates, 17, of Ava, MO, died when another vehicle struck his vehicle head on. The driver of the vehicle that struck Yeates’ vehicle was attempting to pass a third vehicle when the crash occurred. The crash took place on Missouri Highway 76 west of Ava in Douglas County. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle that struck Yeates’ vehicle sustained minor injuries. Yeates was pronounced dead by Dr. Porter at Cox South Hospital.



Juanita V. Jacobsmeyer, 79, of Florissant, MO, died when she attempted to turn left from a shopping center onto U.S. Highway 67. A vehicle struck Jacobsmeyer’s vehicle. It is unknown whether or not Jacobsmeyer was wearing a seat belt; she was ejected. A third and fourth vehicle were involved in the crash. No other persons were injured. Florissant Police Department investigated the crash.



Three fatal crashes occurred on Sunday, November 26, 2006. Mark A. Taylor, 35, of Success, AR, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the road, and overturned. The crash occurred on County Road 277 southwest of Neelyville in Butler County. Taylor was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.



Frances F. Breen, 84, of Festus, MO, died when she attempted to make a left turn after stopping at a stop sign and turned into the path of another vehicle. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 61 at Missouri Route TT in Jefferson County. Breen was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedic Morfeld. Breen was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.



Ronnie E. Limbaugh, 53, of Puxico, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The crash occurred on Missouri Route T east of Wappapello in Wayne County. Wayne County Assistant Coroner Allen Berner pronounced Limbaugh dead at the scene.



The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur.