Eight Traffic Fatalities Over July Fourth Holiday

This holiday weekend Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers worked 382 traffic crashes, which included 159 injuries and eight fatalities over the holiday weekend. Troopers also made 147 DWI arrests.

The 2024 July Fourth holiday counting period started at 6 pm, Wednesday, July 3, and ended at 11:59 pm, Sunday, July 7, 2024.

During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,505 traffic crashes. Last year during the counting period, troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated.

This year, troopers worked ten boating crashes, which included seven injuries and zero fatalities. Troopers made 11 boating while intoxicated arrests. One person drowned over the holiday weekend. The drowning occurred in Troop D.

In 2023, there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Troopers made 10 boating while intoxicated arrests over last year’s July Fourth holiday weekend.

The fatal crash on July 5 at MO 92 Highway and A Highway was not included in this report.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Two Killed in Crash Near Kearney

Two people died and three others were transported to a local hospital with injuries after being involved in a traffic crash on Wednesday outside of Kearney.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and emergency crews responded to a call at about 3:05 pm on Wednesday, July 3 to Missouri 92 Highway and County Road A, west of Kearney.

Troopers report that a four-vehicle collision had occurred when a Toyota Scion heading west bound on 92 Highway failed to yield to a Ford Fusion, that was stopped to make a left turn onto A Highway. The Scion hit the Fusion from behind.

After the Scion hit the Fusion, it veered into oncoming traffic and hit a Gallatin school bus which was traveling east on 92 Highway carrying students from a conference. The car then continued to spin around and hit a Ford Explorer.

Iris Vallares Barahona, 35, of Kansas City, Mo., was riding in the backseat of the Scion and was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene. 26 year-old driver Delmy Vasquez Perez and her other passenger, Griselda Rodriguez Apolinar, 32, of Kansas City, Mo., were both taken to Liberty Hospital. Rodriguez Apolinar was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Vasquez Perez’s injuries are considered serious.

Alex M. Morse, 18, of Kearney was driving the Ford Fusion. He was not listed as needing medical attention by the Highway Patrol’s report.

A 15-year-old male and a 15-year-old female were also taken to Liberty Hospital with minor injuries. Everyone besides Vallares Barahona had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.