NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. Christian T. Ricks
Q11045 (573) 526-6115
November 29, 2004
Emphasis: Twelve Fatalities Over 2004 Thanksgiving Holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 12 people died during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 24, 2004 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 28, 2004. The Highway Patrol investigated 10 fatalities; St. Louis City Police Department investigated one fatality; and Jefferson City Police Department investigated one fatality. This year, the Patrol investigated 416 traffic crashes, which included 128 injuries. Troopers also arrested 116 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2003, troopers investigated 304 traffic crashes including 153 injuries. There were 148 people arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2003. (Statewide, there were 21 people killed in Missouri during the 2003 Thanksgiving holiday.)
Of the 10 fatalities investigated by troopers, four occurred in Troop C, St. Louis area; two occurred in Troop G, Willow Springs area; and one each occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area; Troop D, Springfield area; Troop F, Jefferson City area; and Troop H, St. Joseph area.
One fatality occurred on Wednesday, November 24, 2004. Ashli N. O’Dell, 17, of El Dorado Springs, MO, died when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then ran off the road, struck an embankment and fence, then overturned several times. The crash occurred in Vernon County on Route HH, two miles west of El Dorado Springs. It is unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat belt. Neither O’Dell nor the other two passengers were wearing a seat belt. Two passengers in the vehicle were ejected. Vernon County Coroner David Ferry pronounced O’Dell dead at the scene of the crash.
One fatality occurred on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, 2004. Lee A. Simpson, 51, of Ferguson, MO, died when a vehicle struck him. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Florissant Road when the vehicle traveled off the roadway onto the shoulder. The driver of the vehicle that struck Simpson was uninjured. Dr. R. Schmidt pronounced Simpson dead at DePaul Hospital.
One fatality occurred on Friday, November 26, 2004. Jeffrey R. Bayless, 32, of Van Buren, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the road, overturned, and came to rest on its top. The crash occurred while he was crossing a low water bridge in Carter County on County Road 227, eight miles east of Eastwood, MO. Bayless was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Carter County Coroner Dennis McSpadden pronounced Bayless dead at the scene.
Five fatalities occurred on Saturday, November 27, 2004. Kevin L. Sobol, 22, of Chesterfield, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck the median wall several times. Sobol was then ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Interstate 370 one mile west of Missouri Highway 94. Sobol was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Margaret Lindemann, 71, of St. Louis, died when she attempted to make a U-turn and another vehicle struck hers. The crash occurred on Hampton in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Bradley Freeman pronounced Lindemann dead at Barnes Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash. The St. Louis City Police Department investigated the crash.
David R. Ward, 38, of Columbia, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck a guardrail, ejecting him. The crash occurred on ramp 46 of U.S. Highway 54 in Cole County. The Jefferson City Police Department investigated the crash.
David A. Ryan, 53, of Mansfield, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle ran off the road and overturned. Ryan was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred in Wright County on U.S. Highway 60, three miles west of Mansfield, MO. Acting Wright County Coroner Lynn Hurtt pronounced Ryan dead at the scene. A passenger in Ryan’s vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained moderate injuries.
Information regarding the remaining fatality is unavailable pending notification of next of kin.
Four fatalities occurred on Sunday, November 28, 2004. Russell V. Borchers, 51, of Bonne Terre, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, skidded into several trees, and overturned. The crash occurred in St. Francois County on Berry Road, one mile north of Primrose Road. Borchers was not wearing a seat belt. St. Francois County Coroner Jim Copelin pronounced Borchers dead at the scene of the crash.
Jerry C. Capps, 32, of Breckenridge, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a field entrance, went airborne, overturned two and one-half times, and came to rest on its top. Capps was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Daviess County on Route M, two miles north of Breckenridge. Dr. Ronald Keller pronounced Capps dead at Hedrick Medical Center.
Chrystal J. Ferguson, 31, of Excelsior Springs, MO, died after she stopped due to an earlier traffic crash. Ferguson exited her vehicle and was struck by two vehicles. The crash occurred in Clay County on Interstate 35, near the 28-mile marker. Jackson County Medical Examiner Chris Watkins pronounced Ferguson dead at the scene. Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Liberty Police Department, and Kearney Police Department assisted at the scene.
Doris Edwards, 62, of Lenexa, KS, died when the vehicle she was driving was struck by another vehicle. The crash caused Edwards’ vehicle to strike the vehicle in front of hers. This reaction continued with the vehicles in front of Edwards until there were six cars involved in the traffic crash. The crash occurred in Callaway County on Interstate 70, at the 157-mile marker. One of the other drivers sustained minor injuries. Both the injured driver and Edwards were wearing seat belts. Callaway County Medical Examiner Dori Burke pronounced Edwards dead at the scene.