Eminence, MO. – A crash on Highway 19 near Eminence ended with the driver striking a tree, receiving a multi-stage rescue from multiple agencies, and serious injuries.
This Shannon County crash occurred at 2:04pm on Tuesday, May 9th one mile North of Eminence.
Paul Ahrens, a 62-year-old Lamar, AR. resident, was travelling Southbound while driving a Ram 2500 on Highway 19. Ahrens crossed the center of the roadway, and then ran off the left side. The truck travelled down an embankment roughly 30ft and stopped when it struck a tree and thick overgrowth.
Another driver witnessed the vehicle travel off the road, and assisted first responders in finding the vehicle. Rescue operations included accessing the cab of the vehicle from the back, and using a basket to extricate the driver.
The Ram was totaled after the collision, and Ahrens sustained serious injuries that necessitated air ambulance transport to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
Information on this crash was provided by the Shannon County First Responders and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In assistance were multiple organizations, including the Eminence Volunteer Fire Department, medical personnel from Mercy Hospital, workers from Bakers Towing, and more.
This accident was investigated by Trooper N.A. Fraizer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop G.
