For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
Q11074 (573) 526-6115

November 26, 2007
Emphasis: Nine Fatalities Over 2007 Thanksgiving Holiday


The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports nine people died during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2007 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 25, 2007. The Highway Patrol investigated all of these fatality traffic crashes. This year, the Patrol investigated 390 traffic crashes, which included 128 injuries. Troopers also arrested 115 people for driving while intoxicated. In 2006, troopers investigated 327 traffic crashes including 153 injuries. There were 156 people arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2006. (Statewide, there were 15 people killed in Missouri during the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday.)

Of the fatalities investigated by troopers, five occurred in the Troop B, Macon, area. One fatality traffic crash occurred in each of the following: Troop A, Lee’s Summit, area; Troop D, Springfield, area; Troop F, Jefferson City, area; and Troop I, Rolla, area.

There were no fatalities recorded during the counting period on Wednesday, November 21, 2007.

Two fatalities occurred on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, 2007. Timothy J. McLeod, 23, of Linn Creek, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline, then ran off the road and overturned several times. McLeod was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Camden County on Route A west of Booger Hollow Road. Deputy Medical Examiner Mike Schmidt pronounced McLeod dead at the scene.

Jobania L. Telles, 20, of Kansas City, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck. The vehicle then spun around, traveled off the left side of the roadway, overturned, and struck the median barrier before rolling several times and coming to rest on its side. Telles and another passenger were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the rear window of the vehicle. The other ejected passenger sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle in which Telles was a passenger was wearing a seat belt and sustained moderate injuries. The fourth person in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt and sustained minor injuries. After impact, the other vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a guardrail. The driver of the vehicle that struck the Telles vehicle was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. The crash occurred in Clay County on southbound Interstate 35 at Parvin Road. Jackson County Medical Examiner Cridlebaugh pronounced Telles dead at the scene.

One fatality occurred on Friday, November 23, 2007. Robert A. Couch, 17, of Browning, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the centerline, drove off the roadway, and struck a culvert causing the vehicle to overturn several times. His vehicle then came to rest in a ditch. Couch was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Sullivan County on Missouri Highway 5 north of Browning. Dr. Mattaline pronounced Couch dead at Sullivan County Hospital.

One fatality occurred on Saturday, November 24, 2007. David W. Chambers, 44, of St. James, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the road, came back onto the roadway, then ran off the left side of the roadway where it struck a ditch, became airborne, and then struck a tree. Chambers was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Phelps County on Route B north of St. James. Phelps County Deputy Coroner Ralph Roark pronounced Chambers dead at the scene.

Five fatalities occurred on Sunday, November 25, 2007. Four of the fatalities occurred in a two-vehicle crash in Shelby County on U.S. Highway 36 west of Clarence, MO. The crash occurred when a vehicle driven by Philip E. Payne, 72, of Memphis, MO, crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle head on. Payne was killed and a passenger sustained serious injuries. The driver and two passengers in the other vehicle were killed in the crash. They were: Raymond W. Duckworth, 91, Evelyn C. Duckworth, 89, and Dorothy H. Williams, 86, all of Macon, MO. All persons involved in this crash were wearing seat belts. After impact, the Payne vehicle ran off the south side of the roadway and came to rest; the Duckworth vehicle ran off the north side of the roadway. Shelby County Coroner Ralph Eagan pronounced all fatality subjects dead at the scene. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Shelby County Rescue Squad, Clarence Fire Department, Missouri Department of Conservation, Macon County Ambulance, and Macon County Rescue Squad assisted at the scene of the crash.

Lauren T. Wheeler, 16, of Stockton, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the roadway and struck a tree. Wheeler was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Dade County on Missouri Highway 39 north of Greenfield, MO. Dade County Coroner Mark White pronounced Wheeler 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 out.

(###)