Seven people died in traffic crashes over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend. During the counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 24, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27, 2019, the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 298 traffic crashes with 106 injuries. Troopers made 95 driving while intoxicated arrests and 93 drug arrests.
Last year, 16 people were killed in traffic crashes over the three-day weekend. In 2018, troopers investigated 294 traffic crashes, which included 124 injuries. Troopers also arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated and made 102 drug arrests over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend.
There was one boating fatality over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend. Marine operations troopers investigated six boating crashes involving three injuries. There were no drownings during the 2019 Memorial Day holiday. Marine operations troopers arrested nine boaters for boating while intoxicated and made 27 drug arrests.
William A. Gordon-Price, 27, of Overland Park, KS, died after he went swimming off his Sweetwater Pontoon vessel. He went under and did not resurface. The incident occurred in Camden County at the Lake of the Ozarks at the one-mile marker of the Grand Glaize Arm. Camden County Medical Examiner Dee Ballard pronounced Gordon-Price dead at the scene. Gordon-Price was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. The Patrol’s Dive Team, Osage Beach Fire Department, Mid-County Fire Department, Lake Ozark Fire Department, and Osage Beach Police Department assisted at the scene.
During the 2018 Memorial Day weekend, there were 14 boating crashes which included 10 injuries and one fatality. Two people drowned over last year’s holiday weekend. Troopers arrested 17 people for boating while intoxicated over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend.
Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!
Troopers have investigated all seven traffic crash fatalities. Five fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area, and one each occurred in the Troop G, Willow Springs, and Troop I, Rolla, areas.
One traffic fatality occurred on Friday, May 24, 2019, during the counting period. Clarence E. McPherson, 67, of Virginia Beach, VA, died when he was struck by a vehicle. McPherson was in the roadway at the time of the crash, which occurred in St. Louis County south of Interstate 70 on Natural Bridge Road. Dr. Bokiej pronounced McPherson dead at SSM Health DePaul Hospital. The driver of the vehicle that struck McPherson was not injured in the incident; he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Berkeley, MO, Police Department assisted at the scene.
Two people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Maria I. Stone, 59, of Lebanon, MO, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger struck another vehicle head on. The other vehicle was turning onto Missouri Highway 32 from Red Oak and entered the path of the vehicle carrying Stone. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 21 east of Lebanon. Dr. Eric Funk pronounced Stone dead at Cox North Hospital in Springfield, MO. The driver and two additional passengers sustained minor injuries; another passenger sustained serious injuries in the crash. Stone and all other people in that vehicle were wearing seat belts. The driver of the second vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries.
Robert M. Stump, 49, of Lake St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. He was not wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Missouri Highway 94 west of Howell Road. St. Charles County EMS personnel pronounced Stump dead at the scene. A passenger in Stump’s vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained minor injuries.
St. Charles County Police Department assisted at the scene.
Two people died in traffic crashes on Sunday, May 26, 2019. Delphine D. Stegall, 43, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving was struck in the rear. Stegall’s vehicle had experienced a flat tire and she was attempting to pull over to the right shoulder at the time her vehicle was struck. Stegall was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Interstate 270 at Missouri Highway 367. Christian EMS Paramedic Perry Schneider pronounced Stegall dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; he sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Colton Ogden, 14, of Licking, MO, died when the ATV he was operating left the roadway and went through a fence. Ogden was ejected and struck a tree; he was not wearing a helmet. The crash occurred in Texas County on Pigeon Creek Road northeast of Licking, MO. Dr. Zereik pronounced Ogden dead at Texas County Memorial Hospital.
Two people died in traffic crashes on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019. Charles M. Wilcox, 60, of Ballwin, MO, died when he attempted to make a right turn and entered the path of another vehicle. The other vehicle struck the right side of Wilcox’s vehicle. Wilcox was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Missouri Highway 100 at Pond Road. Dr. Tzau pronounced Wilcox dead at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained moderate injuries in the crash.
The remaining fatality is under investigation. There is no further information available.
The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri's roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober. "Don't Violate The Trust." Follow the Patrol on Twitter for the most current news @MSHPTrooperGHQ
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.
