2 children die, 5 others injured in New Madrid County crash

MARSTON, Mo. — Two Memphis, Tennessee, children were killed, and five others injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday in New Madrid County.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 12:01 p.m. on Interstate 55, two miles south of Marston, as the northbound sport utility vehicle driven by Startisha M. Brown, 34, of Memphis failed to yield and pulled into the path of the northbound International operated by Daniel L. Wiggins, 55, of Pineville, Louisiana.

Brown’s 11-year-old male passenger of Memphis was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:29 p.m. by New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle and taken to the New Madrid County Morgue. Another passenger of Brown’s, a 14-year-old male of Memphis, was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, where he was pronounced dead at 2:13 p.m. by Dr. Gregory Zolkowski.

At 12:14 p.m. Friday, the Portageville Rescue Squad was dispatched to a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident with entrapment on Interstate 55 at the 38-mile marker. Rescue 1 and Engine 1 responded. The first victim was extricated at 12:25 p.m. while rescue personnel continued to extricate the rest of the victims. The final victim was extricated at 12:37 p.m. Two children were killed in the accident, and five others inured.

Brown and her 14-year-old female passenger of Memphis received moderate injuries and were transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Brown’s three other passengers, Tatrelisha M. Brown, 30; a 13-year-old female; and a 15-year-old female of Memphis received serious injuries. Two were flown to Saint Francis Medical Center and another was transported by ambulance.