Highway Patrol Reports 8 Fatalities During New Year’s Period

Eight people were killed statewide in traffic accidents during the 2019 New Year’s holiday weekend.

The 2019 New Year’s counting period was held December 28 - Tuesday, January 1.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 35 crashes, 112 injuries, and 127 DWIs.

There were a total of 8 fatalities reported around the state.

One fatality occurred during the counting period on Friday, December 28, 2018. John R. Egly, 39, of Mountain View, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, overturned several times, then came to rest on its top. Egly was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Howell County on County Road 2790 west of Mountain View. Howell County Coroner Tim Cherry pronounced Egly dead at the scene.

Two fatalities occurred on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Amanda L. Keathley, 40, of Spickard, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, struck a culvert, and overturned. Keathley was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Ray County on Missouri Highway 13 at Missouri Route FF. Dr. Luis Robles pronounced Keathley dead at Ray County Memorial Hospital. The Ray County Fire and Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene of the crash.

Savannah V. Green, 16, of Urbana, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. A passenger in Green’s vehicle sustained moderate injuries. Neither were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Hickory County on County Road 302 northwest of Urbana. Dr. Riley pronounced Green dead at Citizens Memorial Hospital.

Three fatalities occurred on Monday, December 31, 2018. Jessica M. Vincent, 37, of Nixa, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, and struck another vehicle head-on. Vincent was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured; he was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Christian County on Missouri Highway 14 west of Nixa. Dr. David Lee pronounced Vincent dead at Cox South Hospital.

Ramya Bharathi Bharathi Mohan, 34, of Eden Prairie, MN, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger traveled off the east side of the roadway into the median and struck an emergency crossover. The vehicle became airborne, impacted the ground, and overturned multiple times before coming to rest on the roadway. Bharathi Mohan was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. Another passenger sustained minor injuries; she was in a child safety seat. The driver was not injured; he was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Daviess County on Interstate 35 at the 65.2-mile marker north of Cameron, MO. Daviess County Coroner David McWilliams pronounced Bharathi Mohan dead at the scene. Daviess County Fire and Daviess County Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene.

Phillip E. Farrar Jr., 53, of Steelville, MO, was walking eastbound in the westbound lane of Missouri Highway 8 when he was struck by a vehicle. The driver and a passenger in the vehicle both sustained minor injuries in the crash; both were wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Crawford County on Missouri Highway 8 east of Steelville, MO. Crawford County Coroner Paul Hutson pronounced Farrar dead at the scene.

Two fatalities occurred on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Andrew J. Lucas, 27, of Festus, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line and was struck by another vehicle. Both vehicles then traveled off the right side of the roadway. Lucas was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; he sustained moderate injuries. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Mapaville Hematite Road north of Missouri Highway P. Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced Lucas dead at the scene.

Jason Harvey, 44, of Lake Ozark, MO, died after he was struck by a vehicle while standing in the right lane of U.S. Highway 63 near Prathersville Road in Columbia, MO. The driver of the vehicle that struck Harvey was not injured in the crash. The Columbia Police Department investigated the crash.

No traffic fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 29, 2018.

MSHP says in 2018 there were seven fatalities during the same counting period.