Six killed in crashes over holiday reporting period

(From the Missouri State Highway Patrol)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports six people died in traffic crashes over the Christmas holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2016 to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2016. The Patrol investigated 260 traffic crashes, which included 86 injuries and the six fatalities. Troopers also arrested 68 people for driving while impaired and made 40 drug arrests over the Christmas holiday. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2016 counting period.

During last year’s Christmas holiday counting period, the Patrol investigated 282 traffic crashes, which included 78 injuries and two fatalities. In addition, troopers arrested 47 people for driving while intoxicated. There was one boating crash with no injuries or fatalities, and 11 people drowned in 2015, after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters. (Statewide during the 2015 Christmas holiday counting period, there were 1,070 traffic crashes, which included five fatalities and 363 injuries.)

Three of the fatalities occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area; and one fatality occurred in each of the Troop B, Macon, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop G, Willow Springs, areas.

Three fatalities occurred as a result of traffic crashes on Friday, December 23, 2016. Nicholas A. Thomas, 37, of Ozark, MO, and Dustin T. Emmett, 32, of Springfield, MO, died when the vehicle in which Thomas was a passenger crossed the center line and struck Emmett’s vehicle headon. The crash occurred in Greene County on Farm Road 159 north of Springfield, MO. Greene County Medical Examiner Michelle Waters pronounced Emmett dead at the scene of the crash. Dr. Pace at Mercy Hospital pronounced Thomas dead on December 24, 2016. Thomas was not wearing a seat belt; Emmett was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle in which Thomas was a passenger sustained moderate injuries in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt.

Brooke J. Summers, 27, of Salisbury, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the road, struck a culvert, and overturned. Summers was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred in Chariton County on Missouri Highway 5 south of Marceline, MO. Chariton County Sheriff Rick Hershey pronounced Summers dead at the scene. Chariton County Sheriff’s Office, Chariton County EMS, and Marceline First Responders responded to the scene.

One fatality occurred as a result of a traffic crash on Saturday, December 24, 2016. Stephanie N. Price, 30, of West Plains, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the roadway and overturned several times. Price was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The crash occurred in Howell County on U.S. Highway 63 south of Willow Springs, MO. Howell County Coroner Tim Cherry pronounced Price dead at the scene.

One fatality occurred as a result of a traffic crash on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 2016. Donald R. Hearlson, 80, of Marshfield, MO, died after the vehicle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve, went off the roadway, and stuck a parked vehicle. The crash occurred in Webster County on Missouri Route OO west of Red Top Road. Webster County Coroner Michael Taylor pronounced Hearlson dead at the scene. Hearlson was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

One fatality occurred as a result of a traffic crash on December 26, 2016. Martin Lenwood, 65, of Joaquin, Texas, died when the vehicle he was driving ran through an intersection and struck a ditch. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 160 east of Doniphan, MO. Lenwood was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. Dr. McClain pronounced Lenwood dead at St. Francis Medical Center.