Ice storm strikes

~Ice causes death, injuries, and problems for many area residents and travelers

SIKESTON -- At least one person was killed in an ice-related accident during Monday's storms.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 12:10 p.m. on Interstate 55, four miles north of New Madrid, an accident occurred as northbound motorist Jacob A. Schubert of Jackson traveled off the right side of the ice-covered road and overturned, ejecting his passenger, Joshua K. Holshouser, 32, of Scott City.

Holhouser was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Schubert's other passenger, Kendal E. Mungle, 63, of Cape Girardeau sustained serious injuries and was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center. Schubert was reportedly uninjured.

Sikeston employees Darren Martin and Todd Kennard work on clearing the debris from a storm box on south end of Clayton Street to alleviate flooding

Sikeston employees Darren Martin and Todd Kennard work on clearing the debris from a storm box on south end of Clayton Street to alleviate flooding

The fatal accident was one of nine reported in New Madrid County during Monday's storm.

Across the area covered by Highway Patrol Troop E, based in Poplar Bluff, 35 to 40 collisions were reported, not including motorists who slid off the roads and required wreckers, said Sgt. Dale Moreland.

In an accident on Highway 74 near Gordonville, Tammy L. Burks, 44, of Oran suffered moderate injuries when the westbound vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Michael J. Gill, 53, of Cape Girardeau. Gill lost control of his Honda and struck a vehicle driven by Ronnie V. Fauceda, 42, of Oran, before colliding with a vehicle, which was driven by Toni M. Elfrink, 41, of Oran. Gill, Fauceda and Elfrink all suffered minor injuries, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's report.

Besides auto accidents, the ice wreaked havoc in other ways for residents throughout the region. According to the Sikeston Power Plant, 1.96 inches of precipitation fell in a little over 24 hours since 7 a.m. Monday.

A representative of the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities reported power outages scattered across town this morning. Crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible.

A Sikeston resident scrapes ice from her car windows

A Sikeston resident scrapes ice from her car windows

In Scott County, electricity went out around 9 p.m. Monday in New Hamburg, where most residents are members of Semo Electric Cooperative. At press time, power was still out.

A dispatcher at the Scott County Sheriff's Department reported "trees are down everywhere and there are power outages everywhere," when called this morning.

Pemiscot, Mississippi and New Madrid county sheriff departments reported no real problems from the storms.

Information for this story was provided by Standard Democrat staff and the Southeast Missouri News Service.