Deadly week on area roads
By Shari Harris, Publisher
Two fatality accidents were reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Troop G in Texas County this week, and one in neighboring Wright County. A fourth fatality occurred in Troop I, north of Dixon.
The first accident occurred at 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, five miles south of Cabool. Alexander H. Williamson, 33, of Cabool, was driving south on Finley Road when his Toyota Tacoma traveled off the right side of the roadway. Williamson overcorrected, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The Tacoma then caught fire. Williamson was pronounced deceased at 11:14 p.m. by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater. Williamson was using a safety device.
Just over seven hours later, the second fatality occurred at 5 a.m., on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. Justin L. Creech, 35, of Licking, was driving east on Hwy. BB, one mile west of Hwy. 63, when his 1997 Dodge 1500 crossed the center line, traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Creech was pronounced deceased at 5:31 a.m. by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater. He was not using a safety device.
On Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, a fatality accident occurred two miles south of Hartville, in Wright County. Brianna J. Shive, 27, of Springfield, was northbound on Hwy. 5 when her 2002 Dodge Ram van went off the side of the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned. Shive was pronounced deceased at 1:55 p.m. by Wright County Sheriff Glenn Adler. Two passengers in the vehicle were also injured. Cyprus P. Phillips, 22, of Ava, received minor injuries and Daryl W. Phillips, 50, of Mansfield, received moderate injuries. Both were taken by ambulance to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. None of the vehicle’s occupants were using safety devices.
Troop G has had 33 fatalities in 2020, compared to 37 for 2019.
In Troop I, Amanda J. Franklin, 23, of Salem, was northbound on Hwy. 133, 11 miles north of Dixon, at 6:13 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, when her 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe crossed the centerline and struck a southbound 2016 Chevrolet Pickup driven by Gary R. Vineyard, 50, of Brinktown, head-on. Franklin was pronounced deceased at 7:30 a.m. by Maries County Coroner Leo Kloeppel. Vineyard received minor injuries in the crash.
