Fatal Missouri Crashes Over Christmas Holiday

By Zane T. Cagle | December 29, 2017 | Car Accidents, Featured, Pedestrian Accidents, Personal Injury, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a total of 491 crashes in Missouri over the weekend and included 125 injuries and five fatalities. MSHP also made 91 arrests for DWI’s over the holiday weekend and 49 drug arrest. Three of the fatalities occurred on December 23. Additionally, a Springfield pedestrian fatality was reported through local authorities.

Three Children Killed in Truck Crash

Fatal Crash

Loss of life is always tragic, but there is something extra horrifying about three young children being killed in a truck crash the day after Christmas. A Neosho family was traveling on Mo 86, two miles east of Stark City when their Chevy Traverse was stuck by a Peterbilt tractor trailer. After being struck by the semi-truck, the boy’s mother who was driving lost control of the vehicle and crossed the center line where it was struck by a Chevy Tahoe in the side. The Traverse then ran off the roadway and overturned. The three boys believed to be brothers were ages 7, 4 and 2 years of age. The mother was injured. As well, occupants in the Tahoe were seriously injured though their ages were not included. This crash occurred on Tuesday evening around 6:40 p.m. It was unreported on whether the truck driver was injured.

Interstate 44 Fatal Truck Crash

A 37 year-old Lebanon, Missouri man was killed on Interstate 44 just east of Halltown around 12:43 p.m. on December 26, 2017. Two vehicles were eastbound on I-44 and a 2009 Dodge Ram was on westbound I-44 pulling a fifth wheel trailer with a 2003 Jeep Wrangler on it. The Jeep came off the fifth wheel trailer and traveled into the median striking the median cable. The Jeep went airborne and struck the trailer of a semi-truck. The Jeep then continued airborne where it struck a 2016 Chevrolet Trax on the top. The Jeep then came to rest on the roadway on the south side of Interstate 44. The Chevy Trax continued off the roadway, coming to rest on the south side of I-44. A 42 year old female passenger, also of Lebanon was classified as moderately injured.

Crash Involving Disabled Vehicle

A single-car crash had occurred late morning on Tuesday and a tow truck and Parkville Police were on the scene attempted to get passengers out of the vehicle on the passenger side when another vehicle lost control and hit the Pontiac involved in the initial single-car crash. A 79 year-old pedestrian of Lincoln, Nebraska was getting into a two truck when she was struck by the second vehicle, a Volvo. Other occupants and the two drivers were listed with minor injuries.

Crash Involving Disabled Vehicle

At 5:20 a.m. a Dodge Ram had been in a previous accident and was disabled in the roadway. A Ford F-150 struck the Dodge Ram thus fatally injuring a 38 year-old Springfield, Missouri man on December 24, 2017. Troopers reported that he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Pedestrian Killed in Springfield, Missouri

A 26 year-old Fair Grove man was killed when he was struck by a vehicle Christmas Eve as he was walking at the intersection of Kansas Expressway and Mount Vernon in Springfield, Missouri.

Icy Road Conditions Lead to Fatal Crash on Highway 61

An 85 year-old man was traveling in his Chevy Silverado on US-61, crossing the bridge from ST. Charles County in Lincoln County. The truck began to slide on the icy roadway on the bridge, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the concrete bridge rail. The truck then returned to the roadway and traveled off the left side of the road and struck the guardrail and overturned. The Foristell, Missouri man died at the scene at approximately 6:40 a.m. on December 23, 2017.

Single-Vehicle Crash Kills Three, Injures Two

Four young people from Carrollton, Missouri were traveling east on Highway CC, east of CR 261 at approximately 12:30 a.m. on December 23, 2017 in Carroll County when the car ran off the roadway, struck an embankment, tree and overturned. Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle and both died at the scene. A passenger and the driver were both injured. It was reported that none of the young people had on safety devices. A 19 year old woman and a 21 year-old man were killed. The 20 year old driver was seriously injured and a 22 year-old passenger had minor injuries.

Avoidable Crashes

Inclement weather and holiday traffic almost always contribute to an increase in car crashes and truck crashes resulting in death and serious injuries. I was on the roadways for 20 plus hours traveling down Interstate 44 and Highway 13 and the number of distracted and impatient drivers was enormous. There seems to be a crash in Interstate 44 at least once over a holiday weekend, but this Christmas holiday traffic weekend was complicated by the dusting of snow and the ice on Friday night.

Certainly, these crashes are being investigated and causes determined. When drivers are inpatient and vehicles are not safely secured on a fifth wheel, devastation occurs. The families of those killed need answers and drivers must be held accountable. Negotiations with insurance companies following a wrongful death can be complicated and families need expert legal representation. Insurance claims never restore loss of life. Settlements can never bring back the lives of those tragically killed, however, funds are crucial to those trying to rebuild their lives whether it is the loss of children or adults.

The St Louis injury attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm know all too well how dangerous the roadways can be every day of the year and especially during the holiday traffic season.

Our attorneys are available seven days a week to answer your questions, (314) 276-1681

MSHP reports five fatalities over Christmas. News Tribune, 12/27/17

About The Author

Zane T. Cagle

Zane T. Cagle is the founding president and lead trial attorney at The Cagle Law Firm. With a strong dedication to his clients, he has built a reputation for his tenacious representation in personal injury cases, ensuring each client's unique story is heard. Areas of Practice: Personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death. Bar Admissions: Supreme Court of Missouri, Illinois & Kentucky. Superior Court of U.S. Virgin Islands Education: Washington University School of Law. Awards: Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers Association, 10 Best in Missouri for Customer Satisfaction.

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