Highway Patrol reports four fatalities over holiday weekend

(From the Missouri State Highway Patrol)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports four people died in traffic crashes during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2023. There were no boating crashes or drownings.

During the Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers report the following traffic statistics for 2023 (preliminary):

Crashes ─ 431
Injuries ─ 138
Fatalities ─ 4
DWI ─ 103

Drug Arrests ─ 10

[During the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers investigated 414 traffic crashes, which included eight fatalities and 115 injuries. Statewide, 9 people died, and 482 people were injured in 1,355 traffic crashes over last year’s Thanksgiving holiday. Troopers arrested 113 people for driving while intoxicated during the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.]

Troopers investigated all four of the traffic crash fatalities in 2023. Two of the traffic fatalities occurred in the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, MO, area; and two traffic fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area.

There were no traffic fatalities on November 22, 2023.

One traffic fatality occurred on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023. Victor J. Hezel, 93, of St. Louis, MO, died when he failed to stop at a stop light and the front of his vehicle struck the front of a vehicle making a left turn. Hezel's vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a traffic signal post. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Missouri 141, at the Interstate 64 intersection, in St. Louis County. Hezel was pronounced deceased by Dr. R. Sharma at St. Louis Mercy Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries; he was wearing a seat belt. The Patrol's Major Crash Investigation Team #2 investigated the crash.

One traffic fatality occurred on November 24, 2023. Nakieta C. Sarzana, 36, of St. Charles, MO, a pedestrian, died when she was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 70, west of Zumbehl Road, in St. Charles County. Sarzana was walking in the roadway when she was struck. She was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS personnel. The driver of the vehicle was not injured; she was wearing a seat belt. The Patrol's Major Crash Investigation Team #2 investigated the crash.

There were no traffic fatalities on November 25, 2023.

Two traffic fatalities occurred on November 26, 2023. Felicia S. Fitzgerald, 29, of Rich Hill, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the right side of the road and struck a vehicle parked on the shoulder. Her vehicle then overturned and struck a tree. Fitzgerald was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. Fitzgerald was pronounced deceased at the scene by Medical Examiner Lorelle Parker. The crash occurred on Interstate 49, at mile marker 148, in Cass County. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt. The Patrol's Major Crash Investigation Team #1 investigated the crash. The Cass County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene.

Mark A Fields, 63, of Independence, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving was struck on the passenger side by a vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way. Fields' vehicle then struck the front of a third vehicle and then overturned. The crash occurred on Missouri 7, at the east junction of Missouri 150, in Jackson County. Fields was pronounced deceased at the scene by Jackson County Medical Examiner Dominic Bressi. He was wearing a seat belt. 

The driver of the vehicle that struck Fields' vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash; she was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the third vehicle sustained serious injuries; she was wearing a seat belt. A male and female occupant of the third vehicle also sustained serious injuries; both were wearing seat belts. The Patrol's Major Crash Investigation Team #1 investigated the crash. The Greenwood Police Department, Lake Lotawana Police Department, Lone Jack Police Department, and Pleasant Hill Police Department assisted at the scene.

There were zero boating crashes, zero boating fatalities, zero drownings, and zero boating while intoxicated arrests reported during the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.

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 sent out.