LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. – Crashes littered icy roads around the Lake area on Friday, Dec. 16.
Kansas City Man Killed On Highway 135
Law Rector Jr., 84, Kansas City, Mo., was driving a 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 southbound on Highway 135 at 11:28 a.m., Dec. 16, when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway. He attempted to steer the vehicle back onto the roadway and overcorrected. It skidded off the left side of the roadway striking a fence and a tree. Rector was officially pronounced dead at the scene.
Woman seriously injured after head-on crash with a semi-truck
Jessica J. Gierse, 25, Florissant, Mo. was driving a 2008 Toyota Tacoma eastbound on Highway 54, east of Highway 52, at 7:49 a.m., Dec.16, when the vehicle slid out of control, crossed the median and struck a 2013 International Tractor Trailer driven by David W. Burk, 35, Springfield, Mo. Gierse was transported by EMS to Capital Regional Hospital with serious injuries. An occupant in the Tacoma, David w. Verdot, 32, Jefferson City, Mo., was transported by EMS to St. Mary’s Hospital with moderate injuries and Burk was transported by EMS to Capital Regional Hospital with minor injuries. All three were wearing a safety device. The Toyota was totaled and the tractor trailer received extensive damage.
Eldon man flips truck
Nathan S. Chenoweth, 41, Eldon, Mo. was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado westbound on Highway 54, west of Highway 52, at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 16, when he lost control, crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the road, struck the ground and overturned. Chenoweth was transported by EMS to Lake Regional Hospital with moderate injuries. He was wearing a safety device. There was extensive damage to the Silverado.
Fire truck slides on ice, injures firefighter
Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Firefighter Tanner C. Winkelman, 24, Red Bud, Il. was driving a 2008 Spartan Aerial Fire Truck westbound at 10 a.m. on Route MM near County Road Hickory Hollow Road in in Sunrise Beach when the truck began sliding on the ice covered road, ran off the right side of the road and overturned onto the driver’s side. Winkelman was transported by EMS to Lake Regional Hospital with moderate injuries to his arm. He was wearing a safety device. A second unidentified firefighter was a passenger in the truck. According to SBFPD Fire Chief Dennis Reilly, both firefighters have been released from the hospital. There was extensive damage to the fire truck. “Today was a rough day for the members of our district,” Chief Reilly posted on the district Facebook page. “We will take whatever steps are necessary to support our folks. We would like to thank all the agencies who responded to assist us and all those who have contacted us with concerns for our members.”
Three-car crash on Highway 54
Christoper A. Hahn, 19, of Pittsburg, Mo., was driving a 2001 Hyundai eastbound on Highway 54, west of Wagon Trail Road, at 7:15 a.m., Dec. 16, when he swerved to avoid hitting a tractor trailer, crossed the eastbound lanes and struck a Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Jay A. Binspacher, 30, of Camdenton. The collision caused another Dodge Grand Caravan to strike the rear of Binsbacher’s vehicle. Hahn was transported by Mercy EMS to Lake Regional Hospital with serious injuries. There was minor damage to one of the Caravans. The other two vehicles were totaled. Hahn was not covered by insurance. All drivers were wearing seatbelts.
Osage Beach Woman’s Car Slides On Ice, Hits A Ditch
Ina J. Viviano, 67, Osage Beach, Mo., was driving a 2008 Ford Taurus at 10 a.m., Dec. 16, southbound on Rout KK when her vehicle slid off the left side of the road and struck a ditch. Viviano was transported with minor injuries by private conveyance to Lake Regional Hospital. She was wearing a seat belt. The Taurus sustained moderate damage.
Barnett woman injured
Caterina Rich, 74, of Barnett, Mo., was driving a 2007 Kia Spectra on Golden Beach Road at 9:11 a.m., Dec. 16, when the vehicle lost traction, slid off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Rich was transported to Capital Regional Hospital with minor injuries. She was wearing a safety device. The Kia was totaled.
70-year-old woman injured on Highway 54
Bonnie J. Loehr, 70, of Sand Springs, Okla., was driving a 1997 Toyota Camry at the intersection of Highway 54 and Business 54 at 8:13 a.m., Dec. 16, when the vehicle slid off the ice-covered road, down an embankment and struck a tree. Loehr was transported by EMS to the University of Missouri Columbia with minor injuries. She was wearing a safety device. There was extensive damage to the vehicle.
Eldon man receives serious injuries in two vehicle crash
Joshua L. Wood, 24, Eldon, Mo. was driving a 1997 Ford Acura 30C westbound on Highway 54, at 7:54 a.m., Dec. 16, when he reportedly failed to yield to a 1999 Ford Taurus driven by Patrick A. Puckett, 31, Eldon, Mo. Puckett’s vehicle struck the Acura in the passenger side door. Wood was transported by EMS to the University of Missouri Hospital with serious injuries. Wood was not wearing a seatbelt. Puckett was wearing a safety device. Both vehicles were totaled.
