Local News – Tuesday, September 27th, 2022
An accident Sunday evening at 7:10 in Osage County on Osage County Road 722 just west of Route Y took the life of a man from Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, 55-year-old Donald Mahaney of Rolla, was operating a 2020 KTM Motorcycle and traveling westbound went he went off the left side of the roadway, came back onto the road, then slid and went off right side of the roadway, ejecting Mahaney from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Osage County Coroner A.J. Probst. His body was taken to Sassmans Funeral Home in Belle. Mahaney was not wearing safety devices at the time of his accident. The motorcycle had moderate damage was removed from the scene by Owens Towing of Belle.
A fatal accident involving a pedestrian happened Sunday afternoon shortly after 1:00 in Crawford County on Interstate 44 at mile marker 222.4. According to the highway patrol report, 18-year-old Kaitlyn Rhoads of Sullivan entered the roadway while walking and was struck by a 2018 Chevy Silverado being driven by 29-year-old Zach Conover of Lewisville, Texas. This caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and travel off the right side of the interstate. Rhoades was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:20 by Deputy Coroner Nikki Bussell. The Silverado was totaled and removed from the scene by Patriot Towing. The highway patrol was assisted on the scene by Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, the Sullivan Police Department, and the Sullivan Fire Department. This was the 28th fatality for Troop I this year.
An accident happened Sunday morning at approximately 11:45 in Shannon County on County Road 106-B about ten miles east of Ellington. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Arctic Cat being operated by 39-year-old William Collins of Eminence, was traveling north and struck the front of a southbound 2002 Camaro being driven by 20-year-old Trevor Swaringam of Ironton. Injured in the accident were three occupants of the Arctic Cat: 38-year-old Heather Cates of Eminence, plus two boys ages 7 and 12. Cates suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The boys both suffered serious injuries with the 12-year-old being transported by air ambulance to St. Louis Children’s Hospital while the 7-year-old was taken by ground ambulance to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Swaringam, who was wearing a seat restraint, received minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Iron County Medical Center. The driver nor the three occupants of the Arctic Cat were wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Camaro had minor damage and was removed by Aissies Towing while the Arctic Cat also had minor damage and was able to be driven from the scene.
An accident happened in Shannon County Sunday afternoon at 3:15 on Highway 106 about ten miles west of Ellington. According to the highway patrol report, a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 71-year-old Ruth Dierkes of Lesterville ran off the right side of the roadway when she failed to negotiate a curve. The motorcycle overturned and ejected Dierkes who suffered serious injuries in the accident. She was transported by Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. She was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The motorcycle was totaled and removed from the scene by Baker’s Towing.
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular Monday morning meeting at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated materials were going to be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6490 while brush will be cut on county roads 4110 and 4120. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2180, 2183, 2185, 2190 and 2193 while brush will be cut on county roads 3270, 3273, 3275, 3280 and 3290. Larson said two men would be going to Springfield for oil for chip and seal repair. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he and Commissioner Larson would be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Board Executive Board Meeting today to decide on how many of the solid waste grant applications would be awarded with funds for their project. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave her report on the CART taxes received this month by the county. She said the county received $76,466.48 and that is over $14,800 more than last September. Year-to-date, the CART taxes are up $46,234.52 and that is an increase of 8.56% for the year. She also said her treasurers conference in Springfield last week at the University Plaza went well. Deputy Clerk Melissa Piatt said absentee voting with an excuse for the November election starts today at the clerk’s office. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.