Local News – Tuesday, May 30th, 2023
A fatal accident occurred Sunday afternoon around 3:40 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 1140 just west of Phelps County Road 1090. According to the highway patrol report, a 1981 Special Dune Buggy being driven by 49-year-old Paul Rice of Catawissa, was traveling westbound and lost control and traveled off the right side of the roadway. The buggy overturned, ejecting the passenger 42-year-old Chandra Moffet of St. James. Moffet was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdale and was transported to the James and Gahr Funeral Home in St. James. Rice suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health. The Buggy sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by private conveyance. The report goes on to say that Rice was wearing safety restraints and Moffet was not.
An accident happened Saturday morning just before 11:15 in Crawford County on Hickory Road about two miles northeast of Steelville that took the life of a man from Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Harley Davidson Electorglide traveling southbound and being operated by 62-year-old James Goers of Steelville, traveled off the left side of the road. The Harley then struck a ditch and overturned. Goers was transported to Missouri Baptist Hospital by the Steelville EMS where he pronounced dead by Dr. White at 1:33 Saturday afternoon. The Harley sustained minor damage and was removed from the scene by family members. The report went on to state that Goers was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of the accident.
An accident happened Sunday evening at 7:19 in Miller County on Route U at Kinderhook County Road leaving two people with injuries. According to the highway patrol report, a 2020 Polaris UTV heading eastbound driven by 23-year-old Carter Malley of Brumley, made a felt turn in front of a 2021 Ford Fusion driven by 26-year-old Taylor Gardner of Edgar Springs traveling southbound. Gardner swerved the Fusion across the center of the roadway to avoid the UTV, but the UTV struck the Ford. The Fusion then went back across the center of the roadway and came to rest facing southbound. The UTV became airborne and traveled off the east side of Route U ejecting Halley. The UTV finally struck a ditch came to rest facing southbound. Halley and Gardner each suffered serious injuries with Halley being flown to the University of Missouri Hospital by Mercy Air, while Gardner was taken by ambulance to the Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. Neither were wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. Both vehicles were totaled and removed by Hi-Tech Towing in Kaiser.
A one vehicle accident happened Sunday morning just after 8:40 in Crawford County at 155 Blunt Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 19-year-old Matthew Shovlin of Arnold, exited a curve traveling too fast and then overcorrected, striking a tree. A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Nico Portell of House Springs, suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Steelville EMS to the Washington County Memorial Hospital. The Silverado sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The report went on to state that both the driver and the passenger were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.
An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 4:30 in Dent County on a private lane about a mile and a half north of Highway 72. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Polaris being operated by 40-year-old Adam Becklenberg of St. James, made a sharp left turn and overturned. Becklenberg was thrown from the Polaris, suffering moderate injuries. He was flown by Air Evac to Cox South Hospital in Springfield for treatment of his injuries. The Polaris had minor damage and was secured at the scene. Becklenberg was not wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.
An accident happened Saturday afternoon at 3:10 in Phelps County on Route M about four miles west of Edgar Springs. The highway patrol report states that a 2021 Harley Davidson being operated by 38-year-old Neil Nerem of Boone, Iowa, was traveling westbound when he lost control of the bike and overturned. Nerem, who was not wearing any safety equipment, suffered moderate injuries and was flown to University Hospital in Columbia. The Harley was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.
An accident happened Saturday evening at 6:15 in Reynolds County on Route J about three miles west of Black. According to the highway patrol report, a 2022 Zero motorcycle being operated by 44-year-old Jennifer Morgan of St. Robert, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Morgan suffered moderate injuries and transported by aircraft to Mercy South in St. Louis. The motorcycle sustained minor damage and was removed by a private party. Morgan was wearing safety equipment.