Traffic Crashes and Injuries Down This Thanksgiving

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 10 people died in traffic crashes during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period which ran from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2020.

During the Thanksgiving holiday counting period this year, Highway Patrol Troopers investigated 321 crashes which included 72 injuries and nine fatalities. The Patrol also arrested 100 drivers for DWI and made 78 drug arrests.

During the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, Highway Patrol Troopers investigated 404 traffic crashes, which included seven fatalities and 166 injuries.

Statewide law enforcement agencies reported that 11 people died and 634 people were injured in 1,594 traffic crashes over last year’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Troopers arrested 94 people for driving while intoxicated and made 63 drug arrests during the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.

Of the nine traffic crash fatalities troopers investigated, three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area; two fatalities occurred in both the Troop E, Poplar Bluff, MO, and Troop G, Willow Springs, MO, areas; and one fatality occurred in each of the Troop D, Springfield, MO, and Troop H, St. Joseph, MO, areas. The Springfield Police Department worked the remaining fatality.

The closest incident to Kearney happened on Wednesday, November 25. Creighton J. Russell, 31, of Cameron, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving, entered the median, and struck a guardrail. Russell was not wearing a seat belt; he was ejected from the vehicle and struck by an unknown tractor-trailer. The crash occurred in Clinton County on Interstate 35 southbound at the 34.4-mile marker north of Holt, MO. Clinton County Coroner Lee Hanks pronounced Russell deceased at the scene of the crash. Clinton County Sheriff Department and Plattsburg (MO) Police Department also responded.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story