Local News – Wednesday, December 30th, 2020
The Missouri State Highway Patrol wants to remind motorists that when adverse weather conditions are in the forecast, you should check road conditions before driving to help determine if the trip can be completed safely. Consulting the Missouri Road Condition Report (1-888-275-6636) or MoDOT’s Road Condition Map at traveler.modot.org/map/ will provide the most current road condition information available. If conditions dictate, avoid driving on Missouri’s roadways. If you must travel, make sure your vehicle is completely clean from snow and ice, use your headlights to increase visibility, and reduce your speed when the roadway appears wet or snow is present. Remember: Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on. During inclement weather, please adjust your speed to the conditions. Do not use cruise control and increase your following distance. It is next to impossible to stop quickly on snow-covered or slick roads. Allow extra driving time for you to reach your destination at a slow, safe speed. If you choose to travel in inclement weather, keep your fuel tank at least half full. Having an ice scraper, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, flashlight, small shovel, and a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk can help in an emergency. It only takes one traffic crash to close a roadway for several hours. Being prepared is critical. Before you travel, make sure your cell phone is fully charged and keep it with you. Do not use your cell phone when you are driving; park your vehicle well off the roadway or in a parking lot before placing a call. The Missouri State Highway Patrol emergency number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). If you are involved in a crash or slide off the roadway, stay inside your vehicle with your seat belt on. The safest course of action is to contact law enforcement by cell phone and remain inside your vehicle. When remaining in your vehicle, place it in park and turn off the engine. Understand the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and how to prevent them. Create a plan to handle the chance of getting stranded.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reported on the preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend. In the 78-hour counting period from Christmas Eve at 6:00 in the evening until 11:59 Sunday night, December 27th, five people died in traffic crashes. Troopers investigated 175 traffic crashes with 55 injuries and five deaths. There were a total of 62 driving while impaired arrests made. Last year during the 30-hour Christmas counting period, there were 278 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, three people were killed and another 111 were injured. During the 2019 Christmas holiday, troopers arrested 20 people for driving while impaired. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2020 Christmas holiday counting period. Two traffic fatalities occurred in the Troop A Lee’s Summit area; while there was one traffic fatality that occurred in the Troop C in the Weldon Spring area; Troop F in the Jefferson City area, and Troop G in the Willow Springs area.
The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Sunday afternoon, December 13th, at approximately 2:45 an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Pershing and Center streets for expired registration. During the traffic stop it was found the driver had an active warrant for his arrest. As a result, a 41-year-old Salem male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. That night at approximately 10:15 an officer was dispatched to Walmart for a report of trespassing. It was reported that a male subject had been in the store for hours and following and harassing customers. After being asked to leave the store the male subject became very agitated and belligerent and refused to leave the store. As a result, a 36-year-old Salem male was arrested for trespassing. The male subject resisted arrest and continued to be belligerent. The male subject was transported to the Dent County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. Finally on Monday night, December 14th, at approximately 9:05 an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of east Roosevelt for a report of a theft of a firearm. It was reported that between the hours of 3:00 in the afternoon and 9:00 that night a gun was taken from his vehicle that was parked at the premises. The firearm was described as a Savage .243 valued at $500. This incident is still under investigation. Contact the Salem Police at 573-729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.