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. J. Tim Hull
Q1515 (573) 526-6115

January 5, 2015
EMPHASIS: Patrol Reports Nine Fatalities During New Year's Counting Period

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that there were nine fatalities during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2015. Troopers investigated 344 traffic crashes with 116 injuries. In addition, troopers made 90 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 102-hour counting period. There were no boating or drowning incidents during the New Year’s holiday counting period.

During the 2014 New Year’s 30-hour counting period, troopers investigated 116 traffic crashes with 42 injuries. There were zero fatalities reported statewide last year. In addition, troopers made 47 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the shorter 2014 counting period.

Five of the fatalities occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area; two fatalities occurred in the Troop H, St. Joseph area; and one fatality occurred in each of the Troop A, Lee's Summit and Troop E, Poplar Bluff, areas.

Two people died on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2014. Jackie O. Cheatom, 54, of Columbia, MO, died when he was struck by two vehicles as he tried to walk across Stadium just south of Worley in Columbia, MO. The crash was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.

Xander Wohlstadter, 20, of St. Louis, MO was killed when another vehicle violated a red electric signal and struck the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle that struck Wohlstadter's vehicle also struck two additional vehicles. The crash occurred at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis, MO. The crash was investigated by the St. Louis Police Department.

Four people died on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2015. Aaron R. Thomas, 24, of Kansas City, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger traveled off the left side of the roadway. After the driver overcorrected, the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and came to rest on its wheels in a pasture. Thomas was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Buchanan County Coroner Richard Shelton pronounced Thomas dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred in Buchanan County on U.S. Highway 169 south of St. Joseph, MO. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; he was wearing a seat belt.

Michael L. Derousse, 31, of Park Hills, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed a low point in the roadway and the undercarriage struck the roadway. Derousse then lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck an embankment before overturning. Ste. Genevieve County EMS personnel pronounced Derousse dead. Derousse was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which occurred in Ste. Genevieve County on Straughn Road north of Missouri Route EE.

William E. Lyles, 22, of Troy, MO, and Austin M. Moore, 20, of St. Charles, MO, died when Moore’s vehicle attempted to pass a second vehicle and Moore lost control. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Neither Lyles or Moore were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle. St. Charles County Ambulance personnel pronounced Lyles and Moore dead at the scene. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Missouri Route C north of Silvers Road.

One person died on Saturday, January 3, 2015. The crash was investigated by the St. Joseph Police Department. No other information is available.

Two people died on Sunday, January 4, 2015. Gunner W. Petty, 19, of Lawson, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the road, struck a drain culvert, and overturned. Petty was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Ray County Coroner Toby Polley pronounced Petty dead at the scene. The Ray County Sheriff’s Department, Wood Heights Fire Department, and Ray County Ambulance Service responded to the scene. The crash occurred in Ray County on Missouri Route M north of Clevenger Road.

Tyson D. Lorance, 26, of Ste. Genevieve, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve to the right, the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. Tyson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Ste. Genevieve Emergency Medical Services pronounced Lorance dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Ste. Genevieve County on Missouri Route C west of Sprott Road.

In support of "The Drive To ZERO Highway Deaths," the Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life And Wear It!!



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 is distributed.