Six people died in traffic crashes over the 2020 Memorial Day weekend counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 22, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 25, 2020.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated the following over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday weekend:
Traffic Statistics
Crashes — 341
Injuries — 112
Fatalities — 5
DWI — 111
Drug Arrests — 112
Boating Statistics
Crashes — 10
Injuries — 7
Fatalities — 0
Drownings — 2
BWI — 11
Drug Arrests — 3
(Note: During the 2019 counting period, the Patrol investigated 296 traffic crashes, which included 127 injuries and seven of the eight fatalities. Troopers made 96 arrests for driving while intoxicated last year. Also, over the 2019 Memorial Day holiday: Marine operations troopers investigated seven boating crashes involving three injuries and two fatalities; and arrested 10 people for boating while intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes. No one drowned over the 2019 Memorial Day holiday.)
One person drowned on Friday, May 22, 2020. Frankie O. Mills, 50, of Rockaway Beach, MO, drowned after he fell from a boat dock into the water. The drowning occurred in Taney County in Lake Taneycomo. Deputy Coroner Bryan Koppitz pronounced Mills dead at the scene. Mills was not wearing a life jacket when the incident occurred.
One person drowned on Saturday, May 23, 2020. Fredgrikas M. Hardiman, 34, of Fayetteville, AR, exited a boat, was swept downstream by a swift current and went under a log jam. The drowning occurred in McDonald County on the Elk River one mile north of Noel, MO. Assistant McDonald County Coroner Jonathan Fletcher pronounced Hardiman dead at the scene.
Troopers investigated five of the six traffic crash fatalities. Two fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area. One fatality occurred in each of the following areas: Troop A, Lee’s Summit, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop F, Jefferson City.
No fatalities occurred on Friday, May 22, 2020 during the Memorial Day holiday counting period.
Four fatalities occurred on Saturday, May 23, 2020. Richard E. Talbert, 26, of Sedalia, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment. The vehicle overturned multiple times, struck a barbed wire fence, and came to rest against a tree. The crash occurred in Pettis County on Missouri Route U at Smasal Road. Talbert was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Deputy Coroner Brian Morley pronounced Talbert dead at the scene. Pettis County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.
Barbara M. Shaffer, 75, of De Soto, MO, died when another driver lost control of his vehicle and it struck the vehicle Shaffer was driving. Shaffer’s vehicle then travelled off the right side of the highway and struck a fence. The other vehicle overturned and struck a fence. The crash occurred in Washington County on Missouri Highway 47 north of Carp Lake Road. Shaffer was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dr. J. Elliot pronounced Shaffer dead at Washington County Memorial Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash; he sustained minor injuries.
Nicholas L. Hampton, 25, of Kennett, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger ran off the roadway, and the driver overcorrected into the path of another vehicle resulting in the crash. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on U.S. Highway 412 at east city limits of Kennett. Hampton was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced Hampton dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries in the crash. All three passengers in the other vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The driver sustained moderate injuries; two passengers both sustained minor injuries.
Kyle J. Minor, 28, of O’Fallon, MO, died when the ATV he was operating failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the roadway, and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Washington County on Sugar Creek Road at Cherry Hill Road. Washington County emergency medical services personnel pronounced Minor deceased at the scene.
One person died on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Florissant Police Department investigated the crash. No further details are available at this time.
One person died on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020. Ethan A. Fuemmeler, 30, of Armstrong, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line into the path of another vehicle. The other driver attempted to avoid a crash by exiting the right side of the roadway. Fuemmeler’s vehicle exited the left side of the roadway and struck the other vehicle headon. The crash occurred in Howard County on Missouri Highway 5 south of Missouri Highway 3. Fuemmeler was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Howard County Coroner Frank Flaspohler pronounced Fuemmeler dead at the scene of the crash. The other driver was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, other departments report crashes or incidents, a fatality is determined to be a drowning, or if a fatality is determined to be caused by a medical condition after this news release was posted.
