According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a recent article, a dozen people died over the Fourth of July holiday weekend- six people died in traffic crashes and three people died in boating accidents. In addition, three people drowned during the holiday counting period. The counting period began at 6 p.m. Thursday evening, July 3, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 6.
Boating Accidents Increased from 2013
Twenty-six boating crashes were reported and investigated including three fatalities and 17 injuries. Thirteen people were arrested for driving while intoxicated. In comparison, the Fourth of July weekend in 2013 included 19 boating crashes, one fatality and 13 injures, three drowning’s and 17 arrests for boating while intoxicated.
Car Accident Numbers Better than 2013
According to the Patrol, the agency worked 263 traffic crashes resulting in six deaths and 121 injuries. Troopers arrested 142 people for driving while intoxicated. Last year, (2013), troopers worked 358 traffic crashes resulting in 157 people being inured. There were 19 traffic fatalities during the 2013 holiday weekend and troopers arrested 199 people for driving while intoxicated.
Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the weekend fatalities below:
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Traffic Accidents
Two traffic fatalities occurred on Thursday, July 3, 2014. A 65-year old Hume, MO, man died when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck the vehicle he was driving. A fellow passenger sustained injuries in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. As well, a 39-year old Plattsburg man died when the ATV he was driving traveled off the east side of the roadway and the man was ejected in ATV crash. Both the victim and the ATV came to rest off the roadway. This crash occurred in Clinton County in the city limits of Plattsburg, MO.
Friday, July 4th, 2014
Traffic Accident/Pedestrian
One traffic fatality occurred on Independence Day in a pedestrian accident involving a car. A 62- year old Wentzville, MO, man died when he attempted to cross the westbound lanes of Wentzville Parkway and was struck by a vehicle. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Wentzville Parkway east of Meyer Road in a section of the roadway that was not marked as a pedestrian crossing. The driver of the vehicle was not injured
Boating Accident
One boating fatality occurred on July 4, when a 30 year old man of Englewood, CO, died after falling off of his vessel and into the water. His vessel was anchored with numerous other boats at the four mile-marker of the Grand Glaise Arm at Anderson Hollow Cover at the Lake of the Ozarks. He was missing for approximately five minutes before others realized. The man was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
Drowning
There were two drowning victims on the Fourth of July. An 18 year-old Republic, MO, man attempted to assist other subjects in the water and did not resurface. The drowning occurred in Stone County at Table Rock Lake. As well, an 81 year-old Cape Girardeau, MO man drowned when he was wading across the Castor River and lost his balance.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Traffic Accident
A 20 year-old Prairie Village, KS, man and an 18 year old Kansas City, MO, man died when the 20 year old lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a group of trees and overturned before coming to rest on it’s top. The crash occurred in Benton County on County Road SE 1301 south of Missouri Highway 7. Four additional passengers in the vehicle sustained serious injuries and one was ejected from the vehicle.
Boating Accident
A 48 year-old man of Rich Fountain, MO and a 25 year-old woman of Jefferson City, MO died when the boat in which they were passengers was traveling through a narrow passage on the Gasconade River and struck a second boat nearly head on. The other driver and one passenger sustained serious injuries.
Drowning.
One person drowned on Saturday, July 5. A man of Rolla, MO, age unknown, died when he attempted to retrieve a small boat that had drifted out of reach. The man disappeared beneath the surface an could not be located immediately.
Sunday, July 6
One traffic fatality occurred on July, 2014. a 73 year-old St. Clair man died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. The vehicle overturned and came to rest upright. The two passengers in the vehicle sustained serious injuries. The traffic crash occurred in Franklin County on Missouri Highway 47 north of College Road.
The Fourth of July weekend is typically one of the most dangerous holidays in the year for auto accidents. Overall, the traffic fatalities were down this year but the increased water fatalities did not contribute to a safer holiday weekend. Each and every fatalitiy and serious injury is tragic and is overwhelming when so many lives are lost.
Personally recovering from a serious accident is usually a life-changing experience. As well, experiencing the loss of a loved one is traumatic. In both scenarios, consulting experienced legal experts regarding a personal injury or wrongful death is both difficult and important. Costs of medical bills and lost wages can accumulate quickly. Frequently, it is difficult to quickly assess just how much a serious injury will really cost an individual thus if you are in an accident, you should not agree to any insurance amount for medical costs and lost wages until you know fully and completely the extent of your injuries. Likewise, the days and weeks following the death of a loved one, you do not usually think clearly. You should never agree to any financial amount/settlement until you have had time to fully evaluate your current and future situation both medically and economically. Evaluation of your current and future financial and medical situation should be done with a professional who can assist you through the sometimes complicated process.
If you or loved one has been involved in an accident whether it was a motor vehicle or a boating accident, you may need legal representation. Our attorneys at The Cagle Law Firmare expert accident attorneys. Consultations are always free and our attorneys are available seven days a week, toll free (800) 685-3302 or locally (314) 276-1681