By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Only two fatal wrecks occurred in Missouri over the long Christmas holiday period.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports both deaths happened in southern Missouri, one in Troop D in Springfield, the other in Troop G in Willow Springs.
A West Plains man died when a vehicle he was riding in skidded off a curve on Route ZZ east of West Plains, struck three fences, and overturned. The driver and two other passengers sustained moderate injuries. The patrol reports 28-year-old Brian Powell was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Christmas Eve, 70-year-old Mary Smith of Dupo, Illinois died when the vehicle she was riding in failed to negotiate a curve, went off Route H, and struck an abandoned house in Freistatt. The driver suffered moderate injuries.
The 78-hour Christmas holiday counting period began at six o’clock Friday evening and ended at midnight Monday.
Troopers investigated 124 traffic crashes, resulting in 71 injuries and two deaths. Troopers made 81 driving while intoxicated arrests over the counting period.
A year ago, the patrol worked 306 traffic crashes with three fatalities and 84 injuries.