Accident Reports

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 11:12 AM CDT

A one-vehicle accident Sunday night on Frisco Hill Road in Imperial left six people injured, according to a report by the Highway Patrol. Authorities said a westbound Ford Explorer driven by Emily N. Gmerek, 16, of Imperial, failed to negotiate a curve near Lemay Ferry Road and traveled off the right side of the pavement. The vehicle overturned down an embankment ejecting all but one occupant, the only one wearing a seat belt. Gmerek was taken by ambulance to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis with moderate injuries. Janie Frederick, 16, of Arnold, was taken by helicopter to Cardinal Glennon with serious injuries. Jamie Leaheart, 18, of Imperial, was taken by helicopter to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur with serious injuries. April C. Holstein, 18, of Barnhart, and Alexandra Russo, 21, of St. Louis, were treated at area hospitals for moderate injuries. Brian C. Mayor, 25, of Imperial, the only occupant of the vehicle wearing a seat belt, was treated for minor injuries at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

A two-vehicle accident Sunday night on Interstate 55 in Jefferson County left a Cape Girardeau man seriously injured, according to a report by the Highway Patrol. Authorities said a northbound Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Steven P. Scanlon, 22, collided with the trailer of a northbound tractor-trailer driven by Gerald W. Brakefield, 42, of Potosi. The Pontiac then traveled into the median where it overturned. Scanlon, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken by helicopter to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Brakefield was not injured.

A two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Route M in Barnhart left two people seriously injured, according to a report by the Highway Patrol. Authorities said a westbound Chrysler Sebring driven by Carissa M. Resinger, 23, of Imperial, failed to stop at at a red traffic light at M and Catlin Drive and struck a southbound Chrysler Concord driven by Patricia A. Hellenbrand, 50, of Mazomanie, Wis. Both drivers were taken by ambulance to area hospitals with serious injuries. Police said Resinger was not wearing a seat belt.A one-vehicle accident Saturday night on Ware Road in Jefferson County left two people seriously injured, according to a report by the Highway Patrol. Authorities said a northbound Chevy Camaro driven by Donald P. Lee, 48, of De Soto, failed to negotiate a curve near Hammel Road, traveled off the right side of the pavement and struck a tree. Lee and a passenger, Louis R. Byington, 46, of St. Peters, were taken by helicopter to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur. Police said neither man was wearing a seat belt.

A motorcycle accident Sunday night on Ware Road in Jefferson County left a St. Louis man seriously injured, according to a report by the Highway Patrol. Authorities said a northbound Harley Davidson operated by Ronald L. Merk, 53, overturned when Merk tried to avoid another accident described in the story above. The bike overturned, ejecting Merk, who was taken by ambulance to Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City.

An unidentified man was killed Thursday evening when he was struck by a tractor trailer on southbound Interstate 55 in Festus, according to a report by Festus police. Authorities said the incident took place near the Main Street overpass at 7:30 p.m. The southbound lanes were shut down for several hours as a result of the incident. As of Monday morning police had yet to release the man's identity.