MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop D Headquarters - 3131 East Kearney - Springfield, MO 65803


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Sgt. D.S. Bracker
417-895-6767 ext.253
D2009-52
December 28, 2009

EMPHASIS: Troop D Reports One Fatality Over Christmas Holiday


Captain Juan O. Villanueva, commanding officer, Troop D, reports one fatality occurred during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m., Thursday, December 24, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 27, 2009.

George R. Bailey, 52, of Bolivar, MO, died on Christmas Day, December 25, 2009, when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Bailey was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred on Missouri Route PP six miles north of Bolivar in Polk County. Dr. Shaid Kahn pronounced Bailey dead at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar.

Troop D’s 18-county region accounted for 46 crashes with 25 injured occupants. Troopers arrested 10 drivers suspected of driving while intoxicated.

For further information on statistics relevant to this release please contact Sergeant Dan Bracker at 417-895-6767 ext. 253, or Sergeant Mike Watson at 417-359-1500 ext. 2229.