JEFFERSON CITY – Seven persons died in traffic crashes over the 2024 Memorial Day weekend counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 24, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27, 2024.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated the following over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday weekend:
Traffic Statistics
Crashes — 275
Injuries — 161
Fatalities — 7
DWI — 128
Boating Statistics
Crashes — 7
Injuries — 7
Fatalities — 0
Drowning — 0
BWI — 6
Last year, during the 2023 counting period, the patrol investigated 287 traffic crashes, which included 117 injuries and 12 of the 13 fatalities.
Also, over the 2023 Memorial Day holiday: Marine operations troopers investigated 10 boating crashes, which included no fatalities and two injuries.
Troopers made 137 driving while intoxicated arrests and eight boating while intoxicated arrests. No one drowned over the 2023 Memorial Day holiday.
Statewide over the 2023 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 13 people died and 403 were injured in 990 traffic crashes. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, there were 10 boating crashes which included no fatalities and two injuries. No one drowned over last year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Troopers investigated all seven of the traffic crash fatalities. Three fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, area. One fatality occurred in each of the following areas: Troop A, Lee’s Summit, MO, Troop B, Macon, MO, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, MO, and Troop I, Rolla, MO, areas.
One person died within the counting period on Friday, May 24, 2024. Rosa L. Rodriguez, 55, of Amarillo, Texas, died when the driver of another vehicle lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway, struck the concrete median barrier, returned to the roadway, crossed the lane, and struck Rodriguez’s commercial vehicle. Both vehicles left the roadway and struck the concrete wall causing Rodriguez’s vehicle to jackknife. Both vehicles then continued down the wall until it became a guardrail. Rodriguez’s vehicle continued down the guardrail and overturned, while the other vehicle maintained contact with the cargo body of Rodriguez’s vehicle until they came to rest. Rodriguez’s vehicle then caught fire. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Interstate 270 westbound, west of New Florissant Road. Rodriguez was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. EMS personnel pronounced Rodriguez deceased at the scene. A passenger in Rodriguez’s vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle that struck Rodriguez’s vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries.
There were no fatalities on Saturday, May 25, 2024.
Two fatalities occurred on Sunday, May 26, 2024. Crystal P. Hooper, 37, of Monroe City, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. The crash occurred in Marion County on U.S. Highway 61 two miles north of Palmyra, MO. Hooper was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. Marion County paramedic B. Schrage pronounced Hooper deceased at the scene. A passenger in Hooper’s vehicle was wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Palmyra Fire Department, and Monroe City (MO) Police Department responded to the scene.
Patrick L. Shelton, 37, of Benton, MO, died when he was ejected from the golf cart in which he was a passenger then struck by another golf cart. The crash occurred in Bollinger County on U.S. Highway 34 west of Missouri Route Y 12 miles west of Marble Hill, MO. Dr. Anna Delanis pronounced Shelton deceased at the scene. Neither driver of the golf carts was injured.
Four people died in traffic crashes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2024. Dwayne C. Washington, 44, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving exited the roadway, and struck a metal guardrail. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Interstate 270 eastbound, west of Lilac, MO. It is unknown whether Washington was wearing a seat belt. A paramedic pronounced Washington deceased at the scene.
Danny Luebbers, 18, of Salem, MO, died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger experienced a mechanical failure, traveled off the roadway into a wooded area and struck a tree. The crash occurred in Dent County on U.S. Highway 119 at Missouri Route E. Luebbers was wearing a seat belt. Dent County Coroner Gina White pronounced Luebbers deceased at the scene. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger sustained moderate injuries; both were wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash. The Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Salem (MO) Police Department responded to the scene.
William F. Gorman, 89, of Independence, MO, died when the motortricycle he was operating was struck as he attempted to cross U.S. Highway 65. The crash occurred in Benton County on U.S. Highway 65 at Balke Road. Gorman was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Dr. Joshua Stilley pronounced Gorman deceased at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she was not injured in the crash.
Ronald W. Moore III, 38, of Catawissa, MO, died when the motorcycle he was operating traveled off the roadway and struck the guardrail. Moore was ejected from the motorcycle. The crash occurred in St. Louis County on Interstate 55 north of S. Lindbergh Blvd. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Dr. Testrake pronounced Moore deceased at Mercy Hospital South.
NOTE: The statistics provided 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.