Nine Fatalities Over 2015 Thanksgiving Holiday

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports nine people died during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2015, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2015. Troopers investigated 544 traffic crashes, which included 150 injuries. In addition, troopers arrested 99 people for driving while impaired. [During the 2014 Thanksgiving holiday, troopers investigated 319 traffic crashes, which included 109 injuries. In addition, troopers arrested 92 people for driving while impaired that same weekend in 2014.]

Three of the fatalities occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, and Troop C, Weldon Spring, areas; two fatalities occurred in the Troop D, Springfield, area; and one fatality occurred in the Troop H, St. Joseph, area. 

One fatality traffic crash occurred on Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Anthony V. Ferrari, 52, of Peculiar, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving northbound struck the left front of a southbound John Deere combine which was wider than its lane. Ferrari’s vehicle came to rest in the ditch; the combine came to rest in the roadway. The crash occurred in Cass County on Peculiar Drive east of 237th Street. It is unknown whether or not Ferrari was wearing a seat belt. Dr. Girkin pronounced Ferrari dead at Cass Regional Medical Center. The driver of the combine was not injured. Peculiar Police Department and Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.

Two fatal traffic crashes occurred on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015. Derek W. Gillilan, 27, of Higginsville, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned several times. The vehicle came to rest in a field. The crash occurred in Lafayette County on Missouri Highway 213 south of Page City Road. Gillilan was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Deputy Coroner Dale Cox pronounced Gillilan dead. Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.

Lonnie E. Foster, 53, of Nixa, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. The crash occurred in Christian County on U.S. Highway 160 in Highlandville, MO. Foster was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Christian County Coroner Mandy Armitage responded to the scene. Dr. McKowski, Cox South Hospital, pronounced Foster dead (by phone). 

Three people died in fatal traffic crashes on Friday, November 27, 2015. Pamela J. Foster, 63, of Liberty, MO, died when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger traveled over a bridge and lost control. The vehicle traveled over the guardrail on the southbound side of the roadway and struck a second guardrail on the west side of southbound Interstate 35 before traveling back across the southbound lanes and coming to rest in the median. The crash occurred in Clinton County at the 37-mile marker on Interstate 35 south of Lathrop, MO. Foster was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Clinton County Coroner Kathleen Little pronounced Foster dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle and one other passenger were not wearing seat belts; they were not injured in the crash. Clinton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

David E. Rice, 67, of Silex, MO, died when another vehicle crossed the center line and struck the vehicle Rice was driving head-on. The crash occurred in Lincoln County on Missouri Route E west of Missouri Route AA. Rice was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dr. Niemannroyer pronounced Rice dead. The driver and passenger in the vehicle that struck Rice’s vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Both sustained serious injuries. 

Jeanette R. Bunn, 42, of Lowndes, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger struck the rear of another vehicle, then traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The other vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. The crash occurred in St. Francois County on U.S. Highway 67 north of Missouri Highway 32. Bunn was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. St. Francois County Coroner James Coplin pronounced Bunn dead. The driver of the vehicle in which Bunn was a passenger was wearing a seat belt; he sustained serious injuries in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; he sustained moderate injuries. Neither of the passengers in that vehicle were wearing a seat belt; they sustained minor and serious injuries.

One person died on Saturday, November 28, 2015. Thomas C. Hartley, 29, of Clinton, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the roadway and overturned coming to rest on its wheels. Hartley was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Cass County on Missouri Highway 2 east of S. Bennett Road. Jackson County Medical Examiner A. Wilcoxen pronounced Hartley dead at the scene. Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.

Two people died on Sunday, November 29, 2015. Vincenzo A. Keith, 16, of Nixa, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger ran off the roadway, off the side of a bridge, and overturned in the water. The crash occurred in Dallas County on Rocksdale Road south of Buffalo, MO. Keith was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver and another passenger were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash; both sustained minor injuries. 

Taylor R. Dunn, 17, of Silex, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger failed to stop at a stop sign, traveled into the path of a second vehicle, and was struck. The crash occurred in Lincoln County on Missouri Route B at the intersection of Route B and Missouri Route W. Dunn was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Lincoln County Coroner Kelly Walters pronounced Dunn dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle in which Dunn was a passenger was not wearing a seat belt; he sustained minor injuries. A second passenger in the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; she sustained serious injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was wearing a seat belt; he was not injured in the crash. A passenger in that vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries.

There was one boating crash, zero boating fatalities, no boating while intoxicated arrests, and no drownings reported during the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release is sent out.

The Caldwell County News

101 W. Bird 
P.O. Box 218
Hamilton, MO 64644
Phone 816-973-3098 (Call or text)

billing@mycaldwellcounty.com 

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