Seven people died over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
That number is the same as last year, but this year the counting period stretched out longer. Since the 4th fell on a Saturday, many businesses gave employees the day off on Friday. The counting period began on Thursday evening and ended at midnight.
State Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull says troopers worked four of the fatalities, investigating a total of 317 crashes which left 134 people injured. Troopers arrested 149 people for drunk driving offenses. The other fatal crashes were worked by local law enforcement.
Two of those killed in traffic accidents were riding motorcycles. 15-year-old Tyler Wilson of Stewartsville died when he hit a car nearly head-on on a road near Gower in northwest Missouri. 42-year-old Kyle Myers of Liberty died when he ran into a car that turned into his path.
An elderly man riding a motorized wheelchair was killed Sunday. 75-year-old Hayes Walker of Lee’s Summit died when another vehicle ran into his wheelchair.
Pedestrian Ben Schwab, a 42-year-old from St. Robert, was struck and killed by a pickup Sunday while trying to cross Missouri Avenue North in St. Robert.
Three drivers died in traffic wrecks. 30-year-old Melvin Harris of St. Louis died when he lost control of his car. 24-year-old Christopher Harrington of Bismark died when he lost control of his car on a curve. 25-year-old Carl Rick of Wellington died when he lost control of his car. It ran off the right side of the road, drove through the grass median, struck an embankment, drove across the southern outer road, struck another embankment, and overturned, flipping over on its wheels.
