Highway Patrol reports two fatalities over holiday weekend

(From Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provides the following preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend:

Two people died in traffic crashes during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 25, 2023.

2023 Christmas Holiday Traffic Statistics

Troopers investigated the following:

Traffic Crashes — 124
Traffic Crash Injuries — 71
Traffic Crash Fatalities — 2
DWI — 81

[Note: Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 1,017 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, four people were killed and another 318 were injured. During the 2022 Christmas holiday, troopers investigated 306 traffic crashes which included three fatalities and 84 injuries. Troopers arrested 52 people for driving while impaired in 2022.]

There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2023 Christmas holiday counting period.

Of the two fatality traffic crashes investigated by troopers, one occurred in the Troop D, Springfield, MO, area, and one occurred in the Troop G, Willow Springs, MO, area.

There were no traffic fatalities on Friday, December 22, 2023, during the holiday counting period.

There was one traffic fatality on Saturday, December 23, 2023. Brian E. Powell, 28, of West Plains, MO, died when the vehicle he was an occupant of traveled off the road in a curve, struck three fences, and overturned. Powell was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained moderate injuries. Two additional occupants in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries. One was wearing a seat belt, and one was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred on Route ZZ, eight miles east of West Plains. Powell was pronounced dead at the scene by Howell County Deputy Coroner Michael Pauly. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Howell County Rural Fire Department and South Howell Ambulance.

One fatality occurred on Sunday, December 24, 2023. Mary L. Smith, 70, of Dupo, IL, died when the vehicle she was traveling in failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the roadway, and struck an abandoned house. Smith was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt and sustained moderate injuries in the crash. The crash occurred on Route H in Freistatt, at the south city limits. Smith was pronounced at the scene by Lawrence County Coroner Scott Lakin.

There were no traffic fatalities on Monday, December 25, 2023.

Joplin woman cited for DWI following crash near Oronogo

A Joplin woman was cited for driving while intoxicated following a one-vehicle accident 9:15 p.m. Saturday on County Road 200 at Ivy Road two miles east of Oronogo.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo driven by Mamie L. Borries, 50, Joplin, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a MoDOT sign, a barbed wire fence and a rock bluff.

Borries was treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Joplin.

 

Highway Patrol Arrests December 25-26

Haley M. Bland, 26, Springfield, Springfield Police Department misdemeanor warrants for expired plates and no valid license, driving while suspended or revoked, no insurance

Berton C. Rucker, 29, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, failed to drive on the right half of the roadway, no insurance

Ashley L. Coleman, 33, Springfield, driving while intoxicated, no valid license, no insurance, failure to display valid plates, no seat belt

 

Lamar woman injured crashing into tree

A Lamar woman was injured in a one-vehicle accident 4:47 p.m. Sunday on I-49 one mile north of Carthage.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2006 Honda Civic driven by Mariah J. Sanchez, 29, Lamar, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.

Sanchez was treated for minor injuries at Mercy Joplin.

 

Stella woman, three Anderson residents injured in head-on collision

Four people were injured in a two-vehicle collision 2:09 p.m. today on Bunch Road one mile west of Anderson.

According to the Highway Patrol report, 2012 Hyundai Accent driven by Amanda Yang, 30, Anderson, traveled into oncoming traffic and struck a 2013 Ford F-150 driven by Travis J. Luknes, 24, Afton, Oklahoma, head on.

Yang and two passengers in her vehicle, a 9-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, both of Anderson were treated for minor injuries at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

A passenger in Luknes' vehicle, Terry D. Leach, 31, Stella, was treated for moderate injuries at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin. 

Highway Patrol Arrests December 23-25

Rodney J. Washington, 18, Rolla, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving

Byron E. Mejia Sales, 28, Joplin, driving while intoxicated, driving in left lane, no driver's license, stopped partially in roadway, improper license lamps

Donald R. Free, 64, Springfield, felony resisting arrest, felony driving while revoked, displayed plates of another, no insurance, Christian County felony warrant for burglary, Taney County felony warrant for driving while revoked, four Merriam Woods traffic warrants

Iston G. Benjamin, 43, Mundelein, Illinois, driving while intoxicated, speeding

Larry E. Webb, Jr., 49, Neosho, driving while intoxicated. leaving the scene of a crash, failure to drive on right half of roadway, Neosho Police Department misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on careless and imprudent driving and no insurance

Danny W. Glidewell, 65, Springfield, felony delivery of a controlled substance- methamphetamine, felony driving while revoked, Texas County felony warrant for failure to appear on possession of a controlled substance (three counts), possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance, failure to display valid plates, no seat belt

Mamie L. Borries, 50, Joplin, driving while intoxicated

Joseph E. Oliver, 60, Branson, felony possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, failed to stop for steady red signal, failed to stop for red signal, failed to display license plate, no insurance

Heath C. Quick, 22, Crane, driving while intoxicated

Jackie L. Jennings, 46, Nixa, Greene County felony warrant for aggravated driving while intoxicated, Rogersville Police Department warrant for driving while revoked/suspended, failed to display valid plates, driving while revoked 

Suicidal individual shot to death during confrontation with Joplin police officers

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On December 24th, 2023, at 4:26 p.m. the Joplin Police Department Emergency Communications Center received a report of a suicidal individual at 1611 E. Vandalia Street in Joplin. 

During the call, the suicidal individual indicated he was armed with a firearm, made suicidal statements, and requested officers to respond to his address. 

As officers arrived on scene, they encountered the individual in the front yard of the address. During the encounter there were shots fired. The individual did suffer gunshot injuries and medical aid was rendered by police until EMS arrived on scene. The individual was transported to Mercy Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. 

Identification information is being withheld at this time pending formal notification of next of kin. 

The Joplin Police Department can confirm that two Joplin Police Officers did discharge their weapons during the incident and that no officers were injured. The involved officers will be placed on paid administrative leave per department policy. 

Per department protocol, the Joplin Police Department has requested assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct an investigation to determine the facts of what took place. Further details will be released at a later time as information becomes available throughout the investigation. 

We ask for the public to please keep the officers involved in your thoughts and prayers, along with the family and friends of the individual. 

The Joplin Police Department knows the holiday season can be a stressful time. We want to remind everyone that you can call, text, or chat with someone at the Crisis Hotline by dialing or texting 988. Trained crisis specialists are available and can help individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, and/or mental health crisis or any other kind of emotional distress.