Ten People Die In Traffic Crashes Over Labor Day Holiday
Ten People Die In Traffic Crashes Over Labor Day Holiday
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 10 fatalities during the 2007
Labor Day holiday. Last year, there were 18 fatalities. The 2007 counting
period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, August 31, through 11:59 p.m., Monday,
September 3, 2007. During this period, the Patrol investigated 320 traffic
crashes, which included 156 injuries and eight fatalities. The St. Louis
Police Department and Columbia Police Department each investigated one
fatality. Troopers made 186 arrests for driving while intoxicated in 2007,
compared to 172 arrests last year. (Note: In 2006, troopers investigated
309 traffic crashes, which included 160 injuries and 12 fatalities. )
Of the eight fatalities troopers investigated, three occurred in the Troop
C, St. Louis area; two each occurred in the Troop E, Poplar Bluff area, and
Troop F, Jefferson City, area; and one occurred in Troop H, St. Joseph
area.
Two people died during the counting period on Friday, August 31, 2007.
David M. Dickens, 50, of Paynesville, MO, died when he lost control of the
vehicle he was driving, left the roadway, and overturned. The vehicle came
to rest on its top. Dickens was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred
in Pike County at Route H and Pike County Road 213. Pike County Coroner Jim
Turner pronounced Dickens dead at the scene of the crash.
Lyndi M. Richardson, 27, of Des Moines, IA, died after falling from the
tailgate of a vehicle after the vehicle accelerated. Another person, who
was also sitting on the tailgate, also fell from the tailgate and sustained
serious injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured; he was
not wearing a seat belt. The incident occurred in Camden County on CV Hill
Drive, two tenths of a mile from Lake Road 5-41. Dr. Heiser pronounced
Richardson dead at University Hospital in Columbia, MO.
Five people died in traffic crashes on September 1, 2007. Donald E.
Luncsford, 26, of Des Moines, IA, died when he overcorrected after his
Freightliner FL70 box truck traveled into the median. The truck traveled
back into the driving lane and overturned, before sliding back into the
median. Luncsford was not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected. The crash
occurred on Interstate 35 northbound 10 miles north of Bethany, MO.
Harrison County Coroner Jeremy Eivins pronounced Luncsford dead at the
scene.
Shelly D. Hornbeck, 41, of Sullivan, MO, died when the vehicle she was
driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, she overcorrected, then
lost control. The vehicle overturned and Hornbeck, who was not wearing a
seat belt, was ejected. The crash occurred in Washington County on Missouri
Highway 185 near Missouri Route N. Dr. Rich Leahy pronounced Hornbeck dead
at Washington County Memorial Hospital.
Shannon P. Lynch, 24, of Greenbriar, AR, died when the vehicle she was
driving failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway, struck a tree,
and overturned. A passenger in Lynch
Neither was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Camden County on
Missouri Highway 7 north of Missouri Route J. Camden County Deputy Medical
Examiner Mike Schmidt pronounced Lynch dead at the scene.
Natasha N. Atterberry, of Columbia, MO, died when the vehicle she was
driving failed to negotiate a turn, the vehicle traveled off the roadway,
and struck a tree. Atterberry was not wearing a seat belt at the time of
the crash. The crash occurred on Blackfoot Road in Columbia, MO. The crash
was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.
A pedestrian, Brisaan Smith, 5, of Chesterfield, MO, died after being
struck by a vehicle that ran a stop sign at Greer in St. Louis. The driver
then lost control of the vehicle and struck a fence. He was not injured. A
representative of the medical examiner’s office pronounced Smith dead at
the scene. The crash was investigated by the St. Louis Police Department.
One person died on September 2, 2007. Matthew Lawrence, 29, of Lincoln, IL,
died when the ATV he was driving overturned. Lawrence was not wearing a
helmet; he was ejected. The crash occurred on a private road north of
Silva, MO. Dr. Kelly Hartel pronounced Lawrence dead at the Madison
Memorial Hospital Emergency Room.
Two people died on September 3, 2007. John W. Hackle, 15, of Broseley, MO,
died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving, ran off the road,
became airborne, struck a ditch, and overturned. Hackle was not wearing a
seat belt and was partially ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in
Butler County on County Road 677 east of Broseley, MO. Assistant Butler
County Coroner Jim Akers pronounced Hackle dead.
Detailed information about the second fatality on September 3, 2007, is not
being released at this time pending notification of next of kin. The crash
occurred in Franklin County on Missouri Route T.
’s vehicle sustained minor injuries.
