Two Killed on Missouri Roadways During Holiday Weekend

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a Tipton man was one of two people killed in accidents in the state during the New Year's counting period.

25-year-old Dillon Ramey of Tipton was killed in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. 50 in Moniteau County on January 1. The Patrol says Ramey's 1997 Chevrolet S-10 left the roadway and struck a tree east of Springer Hill Road. Ramey was flown to University Hospital in Columbia, where he was pronounced dead.

A 48-year-old Branson man, identified as Kenneth Claypool, was also killed on January 1. Claypool's vehicle was reportedly struck nearly head-on on Missouri Highway 76 in Taney County. The driver of the other vehicle, 67-year-old Sandra Philbrick of Branson, suffered moderate injuries and was taken by EMS for medical treatment.

During the New Year's counting period, which began at 6 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2016 and continued to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2017, the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 220 traffic crashes, which included 84 injuries and both fatalities. In addition, troopers made 103 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 67 drug arrests during the 2017 New Year counting period.