NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. Christian T. Ricks
Q12036 (573) 526-6115
December 29, 2003
EMPHASIS: Nine Fatalities During Christmas Holiday County Period
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports nine people died during the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2003 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2003. During this year’s 102-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 254 traffic crashes, which included 130 injuries and five fatalities. Troopers arrested 99 people for driving while intoxicated. The remaining fatalities were investigated by other law enforcement agencies. During last year’s 30-hour counting period, the Patrol investigated 105 traffic crashes, which included one fatality and 39 injuries. In 2002, during the shorter counting period, troopers arrested 12 people for driving while intoxicated.
The fatality traffic crashes investigated by the Patrol occurred in Troop C, St. Louis; Troop D, Springfield; Troop F, Jefferson City; and Troop H, St. Joseph areas.
One traffic fatality occurred on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2003. Samuel Issac, 32, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck another vehicle on Maple in St. Louis, MO. Issac was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.
Two fatalities occurred on Thursday, Christmas Day, December 25, 2003. Kevin P. McDonald, 37, of High Ridge, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and went off the west side of the roadway. His vehicle struck a tree. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Antire Road north of Crestview Road. McDonald was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Charles A. Louis, 27, of Columbia, MO, died when the car he was driving continued straight at the “T” intersection of Interstate 70 Drive Southwest and Clinkscales. The vehicle went airborne over the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, hitting the concrete divider separating eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 70. The vehicle came to rest in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle to explode and catch fire. Louis was ejected from the vehicle. This crash was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.
No fatal traffic crashes occurred on Friday, December 26, 2003.
Four people died on Saturday, December 27, 2003. Christopher E. Spease, 17, of Princeton, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving, went off the east side of the roadway, and overturned. The crash occurred in Mercer County on Route A north of Modena, MO. Spease was not wearing a seat belt; he was ejected from the vehicle. Mercer County Coroner Mike Greenlee pronounced Spease dead at the scene of the traffic crash.
Leota Tunnell, 65, of Bristow, OK, died when another vehicle’s driver failed to yield and struck the vehicle in which Tunnell was a passenger. The driver of the vehicle in which Tunnell was riding and three other passengers sustained injuries in the crash. The driver of the vehicle that failed to yield sustained minor injuries. Tunnell and two other passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. All three were ejected from the vehicle. A fourth passenger sustained minor injuries; she was wearing a seat belt. The drivers of both vehicles were wearing seat belts. The crash occurred in Lawrence County on Route F west of Stotts City, MO. Lawrence County Coroner Don Lakin responded to the scene.
A double fatality traffic crash occurred in the Cabool, MO, city limits. Bryan L. Forbis, 46, and Mina Vandevort, 69, both died in the crash. The crash was investigated by the Cabool Police Department. No further information is available.
Two people died on Sunday, December 28, 2003. Sarah Elbayoumy, of Lawrence, KS, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger experienced a tire blow out. The driver of the vehicle lost control, crossed the median, and overturned. A second vehicle then struck the vehicle. The crash occurred in Callaway County on westbound Interstate 70 at the 150-mile marker. The Boone County Medical Examiner pronounced Elbayoumy dead at the scene. Another passenger was injured in the traffic crash. Elbayoumy and the other passenger were not wearing seat belts. Both vehicle’s drivers were wearing seat belts.
Joseph Merrill, 18, of Riverton, KS, died when the driver of the vehicle in which he was a passenger lost control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway, and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Jasper County on Route P west of Joplin, MO. Neither the driver nor Merrill was wearing a seat belt. Jasper County Coroner J.D. Love responded to the scene. The driver of the vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the crash; he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.