Patrol: Five die in crashes over Labor Day weekend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Five people died in traffic crashes during the 2018 Labor Day holiday weekend.

Last year, there were 11 fatalities. The 2018 counting period for the Labor Day holiday ran from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday.

During the 2018 counting period, Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated 258 crashes, which included 92 injuries and five fatalities. They made 97 arrests for driving while intoxicated. Also during long weekend, troopers investigated nine boating crashes involving three injuries and no fatalities or drownings. They arrested 15 people for boating while intoxicated on the state’s rivers and lakes.

During the 2017 counting period, the Patrol investigated 313 traffic crashes, which included 130 injuries and eight of the 11 fatalities. Troopers made 142 arrests for driving while intoxicated last year. Also, over the Labor Day holiday 2017: Troopers investigated seven boating crashes involving three injuries and one fatality; and arrested 13 people for boating while intoxicated. There were no drownings over the 2017 Labor Day holiday weekend.

Of the four traffic crash fatalities troopers investigated this year, three occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area, and one occurred in the Troop D, Springfield area. The Springfield Police Department investigated one fatality over the 2018 Labor Day holiday weekend.

Two fatalities occurred during the counting period on Friday. Trae J. Rollhause, 25, of House Springs and Shyann T. Bellagamba, 24, of Pevely died when the motorcycle Rollhause was operating eastbound on Missouri Highway 30 at a high rate of speed struck the right rear side of a vehicle attempting to make a left turn from the westbound lanes. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Missouri Highway 30 at Carol Park Drive. Both Rollhause and Bellagamba were wearing helmets. The driver of the vehicle turning left was not injured; she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. North Jefferson County EMS personnel pronounced both Rollhause and Bellagamba dead at the scene of the crash.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Saturday. John W. Plummer, 53, of Godfrey, Ill., died when the vehicle in front of the motorcycle he was driving slowed for traffic. Plummer was following too close and struck the vehicle’s rear. A motorcycle following Plummer also was following too close and struck Plummer’s motorcycle. The crash occurred in St. Charles County on Missouri Highway 94 east of Sanders Road. Both motorcycle operators were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. The operator of the second motorcycle sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle Plummer struck was wearing a seat belt; he was not injured in the crash. St. Charles EMS pronounced Plummer dead at the scene.

Gary Jones, 65, of Springfield died when a vehicle attempting to make a left turn pulled into the path of the motorcycle he was operating. He was ejected from the motorcycle. The crash occurred in Greene County at the intersection of West Bypass and College in Springfield. Jones was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Jones was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The vehicle driver was wearing a seat belt; she was not injured. The Springfield Police Department investigated.

There were no traffic fatalities reported on Sunday.

One fatality was discovered on Monday. The date of the actual crash is unknown. Richard C. Clemmons, 52, Wyandotte, Okla., died when the motorcycle he was operating failed to negotiate a curve and ran off the right side of the roadway.

He was ejected from the motorcycle. Clemmons was not wearing a helmet. The crash occurred in Newton County on Mulberry Road west of Neosho. Newton County Coroner Dale Owens pronounced Clemmons deceased at the scene.