Highway Patrol Christmas Accident Statistics

(Jefferson City, MO.) Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are releasing the Christmas accident statistics for the state. The 30 hour counting period began 6 p.m. Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The records show there were 91 traffic crashes in the state with 23 injuries and 2 fatalities. There were also 18 driving while intoxicated arrests. The longer counting period last year saw 1,155 crashes with 11 people killed and another 421 injured. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2019 Christmas holiday counting period. Both fatalities occurred in the Troop C area Christmas Day.  Leon J. Barnett, 48, of De Soto, MO, died when another vehicle struck the motorcycle he was driving. Elizabeth J. Rutledge, 32, of Troy, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the right side of the roadway. Rutledge overcorrected causing the vehicle to return to the road and roll over. Rutledge was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.

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