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Seventeen road fatalities, three drownings over July 4 weekend

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 17 people died in traffic crashes during the 2013 July Fourth holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, and ended at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 8.

State troopers worked 358 traffic crashes in which 13 people died and 157 were injured. The Columbia Police Department worked one fatality crash; St. Louis City Police Department worked a triple fatality crash. Troopers arrested 199 people for driving while intoxicated during this year’s 102-hour holiday counting period.

Those numbers are way up from last year, when troopers worked 99 traffic crashes in which three people died and 45 were injured. Troopers arrested 59 people for driving while intoxicated last year. Statewide, in 2012, there were 385 traffic crashes, in which four people died and 194 were injured.

The Patrol points out that numbers were likely to be higher this year since the counting period was more than three times longer. This year’s counting period and enforcement efforts stretched over four days since July 4 fell on a Thursday.

No fatalities occurred on Wednesday, July 3. Seven fatalities occurred on Thursday, July 4.

  • Timothy R. Panzar, 25, of St. Robert, died when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, became airborne, struck a tree, and overturned. The ATV then came to rest in the Big Piney River. Panzar and a passenger were ejected into the river. Pulaski County Coroner Mikel Hartness pronounced Panzar dead. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The crash occurred in Pulaski County on Hartford Road north of Missouri Highway 28.
  • Kathleen M. Gentner, 72, of Macon, died when she attempted to drive her vehicle across U.S. Highway 36 and was struck in the driver’s side door by an eastbound vehicle. It is unknown whether or not Gentner was wearing a seat belt. Macon County Coroner Brian Hayes pronounced Gentner dead at the scene. The driver and two passengers in the second vehicle sustained minor or moderate injuries. The crash occurred in Macon County on U.S. Highway 36 at Kellogg Avenue.
  • Jason A. Rittermeyer, 32, of Archie, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving after the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway. The vehicle returned to the roadway, skidded sideways across the highway, and was struck in the passenger door. Both vehicles came to rest off the south side of the roadway. Rittermeyer was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. In addition to Jason Rittermeyer, Noah Rittermeyer, 10, Sage Rittermeyer, 9, Anna Rittermeyer, 8, all of Archie, and Aleah M. Lucas, 22, of Olathe, Kansas, also died in the crash. Noah was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Sage was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Lucas was not wearing a seat belt; she was ejected from the vehicle. It is unknown whether or not Anna was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Jackson County Medical Examiner pronounced all fatalities deceased. The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries; he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Cass County on Missouri Route B at Cantrell Road.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Friday, July 5, 2013.

  • Tracy L. Adams, 45, of Wright City, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway, she overcorrected the vehicle, returned to the roadway and began to rotate counterclockwise. The vehicle then slid off the road, struck a shallow ditch, and overturned. Adams was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash; she was partially ejected and came to rest under the vehicle. Warren County Coroner Roger Mauzy pronounced Adams deceased. The crash occurred in Warren County on Westwoods Road east of North Strack Church Road.
  • Elizabeth Baylark, 79, of St. Louis, died after she suffered a medical condition and lost control of the vehicle she was driving. Her vehicle then traveled off the roadway and struck a pedestrian at a bus stop bench. Baylark was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Dr. Fulkert at DePaul Hospital pronounced Baylark dead. The pedestrian suffered moderate injuries in the crash. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Missouri Highway 180 east of McKelvey Road.

Six people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, July 6, 2013.

  • Brenda L. Richards, 44, of Washington, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, she overcorrected causing the vehicle to travel across the roadway and into the median where it overturned. Richards was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Deputy Coroner Woodward pronounced Richards dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Jasper County on Interstate 44, four miles east of Carthage.
  • Brandon M. Blankenship, 24, of St. Charles, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger failed to negotiate a curve to the left, traveled off the right side of the roadway, overturned several times, and struck several trees. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash. Blankenship was not wearing a seatbelt. Deputy Coroner Steve Hatfield pronounced Blankenship dead. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries in the crash; she was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Washington County on Missouri Highway 21 at Missouri Route C.
  • Joseph B. Stamey, 26, of Belton, died when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving skidded off the roadway and struck a tree. Stamey was ejected. Both the vehicle and Stamey came to rest in the roadway. Ozark County Coroner Shane Ledbetter pronounced Stamey dead. The crash occurred in Ozark County on County Road 529 west of Missouri Route J.
  • Lydell Templeton, 43, of St. Louis, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle then collided with the median and overturned several times before catching fire. In addition to Lydell Templeton, Michael J. Helm, 20, of St. Louis, and Tyrone Cain II, 40, address unknown, died in the crash. Two additional passengers sustained serious injuries. Seatbelt information is unknown. Four of the five occupants were ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in St. Louis County near the Highway 40/Interstate 64 interchange at Kingshighway. St. Louis City Police Department investigated the crash.

Two people died on Sunday, July 7, 2013.

  • Michael S. Mann, 40, of High Ridge, died when the motorcycle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle began to skid and struck a second vehicle. Dr. Olsen at St. Anthony’s Hospital pronounced Mann dead. The driver of the vehicle that struck Mann’s motorcycle was not injured in the crash. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on High Ridge Boulevard east of Antire Road.
  • Brandon E. Bainter, 29, of Quincy, Ill., died when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and collided with a utility pole. Bainter was ejected. The crash occurred in Boone County at the intersection of West Broadway Street and Westwood Avenue in Columbia. The Columbia Police Department investigated the crash.

Three people drowned on Missouri waterways. Two people drowned on July 4, at Smithville Lake in Clinton County.

  • The body of John S. Butts, 55, of Smithville, was recovered on July 5, 2013 near Smithville Lake Access 14. The body was taken to Frontier Forensic in Kansas City; the investigation continues.
  • The body of Gregory E. Weese, age unknown, of Plattsburg, was recovered on July 5, 2013, near the Smithville Lake Access 14. His body was also taken to Frontier Forensic in Kansas City.

One person drowned on Friday, July 5.

  • The incident occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, area. The investigation continues. Identification has not been released.

There were zero boating fatalities over the 2013 July Fourth counting period. Troopers investigated 17 boating crashes involving 11 injuries.

Troopers also arrested 17 people for boating while intoxicated over the holiday counting period. During the 2012 July Fourth weekend, officers investigated six boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned, two people were electrocuted, and seven people were arrested for boating while intoxicated during last year’s July Fourth weekend.

The Patrol says fatality statistics may change if someone dies from their injuries or if other law enforcement departments report fatal traffic crashes after today’s press release was sent out, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition rather than traffic incident.

The Patrol posts all accident details on its website, click  HERE.

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports (:65)

Gas prices on the rise

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We say it every summer — "well, gas prices are going up for the summer travel season."

And they are on the rise, but it’s not all due to summer demand, which drives prices up, up, up.

Mike Right with AAA in St. Louis says the spike is also a result of an unexpected rise in crude oil prices. Still, motorists won’t feel the pinch at the pump as bad as last year.

The average gas price in Missouriis about $2.47 a gallon and rising. Right says the Department of Energyhad projected a peak of $2.30 a gallon, but that "their projections are wrong as they usually are" and that a more likely peak is about $2.70.

Last year’s peak, in July, was around $3.95 a gallon. Ouch. He says there is no indication that we’ll reach those kind of prices this year. He says AAA’s preliminary indications is that more motorists will be traveling this year, and farther distances, that people aren’t as fearful of the economic decline as last year and are taking that vacation.

Right says to get the most out ofyour gas tank, keep tires inflated, air filters changed, don’t carry extraweight and slow down. Dropping your speed on the highways by just 10 mph can cut back on gas consumption.

He also recommends being wary of e-mail myths or Internet "tips" that don’t really help save on gas. The best advice, he says, is to follow your car’s instruction manual on octane usage.

And Missourians are doing better than most, Right says. A look at national averages show Missouri in the top half with SouthCarolina having the cheapest gas at $2.37. Hawaii is at the bottom of the list; motorists there are paying about $2.91.

The AAA Web site offers a host of information on gas prices, calculating fuel expenses before hitting the road and more.

 

Highway Patrol reminds motorists to be safe on congested roads this weekend

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As Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season, the Highway Patrol issues some safety reminders and sobering statistics.

Crash in Southwest Missouri Lieutenent John Hotz says troopers will be out in numbers this weekend in anticipation of heavy traffic statewide, both to enforce traffic laws and to assist motorists who might be having trouble on the roadside.

The Highway Patrol says inattention, speeding and failing to yield the right-of-way cause the majority of accidents. Last year, there were more than 1,000 crashes resulting in 11 deaths and 477 injuries.

The Highway Patrol reminds motorists to obey the sepeed limit, pay attention to extra traffic on the roadways, watch for construction zones, follow traffic laws, fasten seatbelts, and make sure kids are in a safety seat appropriate to the size of the child.

The patrol reports Missouri is currently experiencing an 18 percent reduction in traffic deaths compared to the same time period last year, but says there are many vacation days between now and the end of the year.

The patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available officer will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. In addition, the Patrol will assign troopers to 10-mile intervals along Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 61 on May 22 and May 25.

Troopers taking part in this enforcement project will be alert for all traffic offenses, and be especially vigilant to aggressive driving violations.

Motorists in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Highway Emergency number (800) 525-5555 or dial *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can call (800) 222-6400 to hear about road construction areas throughout the state.

Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, intoxicated drivers, and speeding.

Missouri is currently experiencing an 18 percent reduction in traffic deaths compared to the same time period last year, but, the patrol says there are several holiday periods and many vacation days between now and the end of the year. Motorists are encouraged to practice safe driving habits to help continue this trend.

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

MoDOT urges Nixon to veto repeal of motorcycle helmet law

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The Missouri Department of Transportation is urging Gov. Jay Nixon to veto Senate Bill 202, which would repeal Missouri’s motorcycle helmet law.

Director Pete Rahn “Nine to one. That’s the ratio by which Missourians support the state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets according to a new telephone survey,” says MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. “The survey revealed 84 percent of Missourians support the state’s current law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. Only nine percent opposed the helmet requirement. At the same time, 75 percent of those who have ridden a motorcycle in the past year support the law requiring helmet use.”

All motorcycle riders and passengers are currently required by law to wear helmets. The Missouri General Assembly recently amended Missouri’s all-rider motorcycle helmet law, which has been sent to the governor for his consideration. The current law has been in effect for more than 40 years.

MoDOT reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 42 additional lives were saved in Missouri in 2007 because of motorcycle helmet use.

“By a nine to one ratio, Missourians know this simple fact: motorcycle helmets save lives,” MoDOT Director Pete Rahn said. “I urge Gov. Nixon to veto Senate Bill 202 and save precious lives.”

Rahn says changing the motorcycle helmet law couldn’t come at a worse time – motorcycle crash deaths in Missouri are on the rise. In 2008, there was a 13 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities from 93 in 2007 to 107. In fact, even though traffic fatalities as a whole are down significantly in Missouri, motorcycle fatalities have nearly doubled since 2004.

“Repeal of the helmet law will cause even more senseless loss of lives. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Study of 10 states found that when the helmet laws were repealed, helmet-use rates dropped from 99 percent to 50 percent and motorcycle fatalities increased significantly,” Rahn says.

He was joined today at the Capitol Region Medical Center Emergency Room Entrance by opponents of the legislation: Dr. Jeffrey Coughenour, assistant professor of surgery with the University of Missouri Health Care; Dr. Greg Folkert with Washinton University School of Medicine, who lost his father at age 10 because of a motorcycle crash in which he was not wearing a helmet; and David Humphrey, a Fulton resident, who survived a serious crash while riding a motorcycle on Highway 54 a few years back. Humphrey says a helmet saved his life.

 


Pete Rahn talks about possible repeal of helmet law

Missouri weather dangerously cold tonight

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Steve Beusterien, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, says weather conditions are rapidly deteriorating across the state as a cold front moves in.

"The cold front has moved through much of northern and central Missouri and temperatures have already fallen into the single digits and teens north of Interstate 70, and temperatures are right now 5 to 10 along the Iowa border and 15 to 20 near Interstate 70 and a little warmer to the south," Beusterien says. "Cold air will continue to rush into Missouri this afternoon with strong northwest winds at 15 to 25 miles per hour. The wind chill has already fallen to about 15 below at the Iowa border."

Temperatures are expected to fall to about 5 degrees to 10 degrees below zero across Missouri tonight, Beusterien says, with wind chills falling to about 25 below.

"Naturally … you’ll need to bundle up, reduce your exposure to outdoors," he says, "and if you’re traveling, make sure you have your winter safety kit with you … a little bit of food, extra blankets, flashlights."

"If you get out there and get stranded you’ll get cold quite quickly," he says.

In the case that residents do get stranded on the road, or find themselves without heat in their homes tonight, it’s recommended they call their local emergency personnel or law enforcement agency for help, he says.

Though the weather outside is frightful, Beusterien says there are warmer days in the near forecast and by early next week, the state will see weather that’s "quite nice for this time of year."

Missouri ready to go with projects should Congress act

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Missouri’s transportation director says the federal government needs to make more of an investment in the nation’s infrastructure.

MoDOT Director Pete Rahn has told state lawmakers their federal counter-points need to invest more in transportation, stating the $286 billion budgeted would have to grow to $545 billion to match the purchasing power of the federal transportation program in 1991. He says the federal government allocated five percent of its budget in the 80s to infrastructure and that percentage has steadily decreased ever since.

Some in Congress have advocated an emergency $25 billion economic stimulus package that would focus on infrastructure, in particular, roads and bridges. MoDOT officials have outlined 34 projects it would be ready to begin within 180 days should Congress release the money. The majority of the money, $137 million, would make improvements to Interstates 70, 44, 55, 35 and 29. Another $60 million would be set aside for rural routes throughout the state. Seventeen of the proposed projects are already included in the state construction program. They would be completed sooner, some by up to four years earlier.

Rahn says traffic has grown so much over the years that it uses up 83% of the national highway system’s capacity. Even with the injection of stimulus money, federal funding would fall far short of what Washington should deliver in Rahn’s eyes. He says the nation needs to engage in a conversation on the appropriate amount it should spend on infrastructure when the current highway bill ends in September of next year. He says MoDOT also is engaging in a conversation with Missourians about how the state should proceed with funding transportation once money leveraged from passage of Amendment Three runs out, which he says is coming shortly, reducing the state highway budget to mere maintenance.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

State transportation officials warned: vision first, taxes second

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State transportation officials have been warning for the past few years that the money to keep up the current highway construction pace is about to run out. The problem though is convincing voters to support a tax increase.

Political consultant David Barklage tells transportation leaders they must sell a vision, not a tax increase. Barklage suggests that the vision come first. He says there is no cohesive message now.

Barklage sees three groups that must be convinced that state transportation is heading in the right direction: politicians, community leaders, and the general public. He warns politicians that the public’s attitude remains jaded from past broken promises.

Barklage says any successful campaign connects with the public, demonstrating that improved transportation will make a difference in their lives.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:10pm)

A Clear, Mild Christmas Day for Missouri

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Clear, mild weather is expected this Christmas Day. The National Weather Service reports high pressure stretching from the lower Mississippi Valley to the eastern United States is providing clear and tranquil weather.

Highs today are expected to hover between the mid-40s to the lower 50s in the St. Louis area. The National Weather Service expects temperatures in northern Missouri to be in the 30s, with the temperatures rising into the 40s in central Missouri. The Kansas City area should see temperatures near 50. Christmas Day in the Ozarks, including Springfield, is expected to bring temperatures in the mid-50s.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports all roads are clear today, a stark contrast to this past weekend. The heavy snowstorm that hit northwest Missouri shut down Interstate 29 from Dearborn to the Iowa state line. The State Highway Patrol counted between 20 to 40 vehicles in a pile up at St. Joseph on I-29 and said whiteout conditions made it difficult to clear the interstate.

The Weather Service predicts nothing like that today and predicts the next winter storm will enter Missouri Wednesday evening. It is expected to be mild. Forecasters expect little snow accumulation and say that the precipitation could come in the form of rain if temperatures hold. A wary eye is being kept on a system that could enter the state prior to this weekend. This strong winter weather system brings with it a better chance of accumulation. The snow is expected to affect far northwest Missouri the most.

Governor Declares State of Emergency

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Ice Storm Governor Blunt has declared a state of emergency as Missouri attempts to recover from the ice storm that knocked out power for tens of thousands of residents Sunday. Even as the state attempts to recover, more severe weather is forecast with no let-up predicted until perhaps Tuesday evening.

Blunt issued two executive orders on Sunday. One activates the State Emergency Operations Center outside Jefferson City and allows state agency resources to be used to assist local governments in their recovery efforts. The second activates the Missouri National Guard on an as-needed basis to protest life and property and to support civilian authorities.

Reports indicate that the ice storm hit hard central and northeast Missouri as well as the southwestern portion of the state. As many as 44,000 AmerenUE customers lost power on Sunday, as many as 15,000 in Jefferson City alone. Much of the damage came as heavy rains fell early Sunday morning. The temperature dropped and ice coated tree limbs and power lines. Many power lines snapped on their own. Some were brought down when overhanging limbs broke and clipped them. The storm also took out sub-stations.

The most discouraging news comes with the forecast. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory for Monday night and Tuesday when it expects another round of freezing rain to hit the state. The upper level storm system which produced the ice storm is expected to return with another significant ice storm possible. The Weather Service says the storm has the potential to produce damaging accumulations of ice.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports most major roads in the state are clear, with a few ice covered. [ Photos of ice damage in mid-Missouri ]

MoDOT Asks for Delay in Massive Bridge Repair Project

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It will be awhile before the State Transportation Commission considers a contract to repair 800 of Missouri’s worst bridges.

Missouri Department of Transportation spokesman Jeff Briggs says MoDOT has asked the commission for up to 60 days to study two proposals. Two teams of contractors have submitted nearly 700,000 pages of documents. As Briggs says, "That is one mountain of paperwork."

It’s the second delay for the ambitious project. MoDOT officials were ready to move forward earlier this year when they discovered that state law wouldn’t allow them to proceed. Legislators made a change in state law during the special session to clear the way for the project to move forward.

The project itself is unique. It asks the successful contractor to pay upfront to fix 800 bridges within five years and then maintain them for the next 25 years. The state will make annual payments to the contractor. The project is estimate to cost between $400 and 600 million.