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
(573) 526-6115

Q09102
September 7, 2010
EMPHASIS: Seven People Die In Traffic Crashes Over Labor Day Holiday

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports seven fatalities during the 2010 Labor Day holiday. Last year, there were eight fatalities. The 2010 counting period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, September 3, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, September 6, 2010. During this period, the Patrol investigated 294 traffic crashes, which included 148 injuries and six of the fatalities. St. Louis City Police Department investigated one fatality. Troopers made 190 arrests for driving while intoxicated in 2010, compared to 149 arrests last year. (Note: In 2009, troopers investigated 308 traffic crashes, which included 130 injuries and six of the eight fatalities.)

Of the six fatalities troopers investigated, one occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area; one occurred in Troop C, Weldon Spring area, and four occurred in Troop D, Springfield area.

One person died in a traffic crash on Friday, September 3, 2010. Matthew R. McMahan, 24, of Grandview, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled off the north side of the roadway and struck two trees. McMahan was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, which took place on Missouri City Road east of Nebo Road in Clay County. Medical Examiner Scott Bronson pronounced McMahan dead at the scene of the crash.

There was one traffic crash fatality on Saturday, September 4, 2010. The crash occurred on Interstate 55 and involved a pedestrian. The St. Louis City Police Department investigated the crash. No further details are available at this time.

One person died in a traffic crash on Sunday, September 5, 2010. Michael P. Colombo, 58, of Gerald, MO, died when the ATV he was driving traveled off the north side of the roadway and overturned. Colombo was ejected from the ATV during the crash, which occurred on Angell Road at Missouri Route H in Franklin County. Gerald Ambulance personnel pronounced Colombo dead at the scene.

Four people died in traffic crashes on Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2010. Kelsey S. Lenox, of Fair Grove, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger traveled off the right side of the road; the driver overcorrected causing it to then travel off the left side of the road. The vehicle overturned and Lenox was ejected from the vehicle. Lenox was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The crash occurred four miles north of Buffalo, MO, on U.S. Highway 65 in Dallas County. Dr. Osche pronounced Lenox deceased. Dallas County Coroner Lamont Swanson, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police Department, Dallas County Fire and Rescue, and St. Johns Ambulance also responded to the scene.

Robert C. Hartman, 39, of Seymour, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving slid off the west side of the road and struck a tree. Hartman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Zion Road east of Diggins in Webster County. Webster County Coroner Michael Taylor pronounced Hartman dead at the scene.

Caitlyn V. Leclerk, 21, of Columbia, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger ran off the road and overturned. Leclerk was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries in the crash. Another passenger was wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries in the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 39 south of Viola in Stone County. Barry County Coroner Jim Fohn pronounced Leclerk dead at the scene.

Raymond H. Willoughby, 77, of Branson, MO, died when he drove in front of another vehicle while attempting to make a left turn. His vehicle was struck in the driver’s side door. Both vehicles came to rest in the median of the roadway. Willoughby was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Taney County on U.S. Highway 65 north of Branson. A passenger in Willoughby’s vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt and sustained minor injuries. Dr. Wood at Cox South Hospital pronounced Willoughby dead.

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical rather than traffic incident.


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