POPLAR BLUFF -- Eight people died in traffic crashes during the 2015 Labor Day holiday weekend. Last year, there were six fatalities.
The 2015 counting period for the Labor Day holiday ran from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. During this period, the Patrol investigated 348 traffic crashes, which included 167 injuries and eight fatalities.
Troopers made 121 arrests for driving while intoxicated in 2015, compared to 77 arrests last year. In 2014, troopers investigated 274 traffic crashes, which included 120 injuries and three of the fatalities.
There was one boating fatality over the 2015 Labor Day holiday. Troopers investigated 10 boating crashes involving 13 injuries. There were three drownings reported. Troopers also arrested 23 people for boating while intoxicated over the weekend. During the 2014 Labor Day weekend, officers investigated 13 boating crashes, which included five injuries and zero fatalities. There were no drownings in 2014. Troopers arrested 14 people for boating while intoxicated during last year's Labor Day weekend.
Of the eight traffic crash fatalities troopers investigated, two occurred in each of the following areas: Troop D, Springfield area; Troop E, Poplar Bluff area; and Troop F, Jefferson City area. One fatality occurred in Troop A, Lee's Summit; and Troop I, Rolla, area.
The first fatality occurred on Friday during the counting period. Brian G. Rippeto, 48, of St. James died as the motorcycle he was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway striking a rock bluff before coming to rest. The crash occurred in Maries County on U.S. Highway 63 south of Missouri Highway A as his motorcycle was overtaking another vehicle. Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman pronounced Rippeto dead at the scene. The Maries County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene.
Four fatalities occurred on Saturday. Patricia A. Pilcher, 52, of Fayette died when the motorcycle she was riding struck a deer in the roadway. Pilcher was ejected from the motorcycle. The crash occurred in Howard County on Missouri Highway 240 east of County Road 422. Pilcher was pronounced dead at University Hospital.
Lane J. Holem, 11, of Florence died when he lost control of the John Deere tractor he was driving, traveled off the right side of the roadway, through a ditch, and up an embankment. Holem was ejected from the tractor, which then struck him. The tractor came to rest in the ditch. The crash occurred in Morgan County on Missouri Route DD west of Missouri Highway 135. Holem was pronounced deceased at the scene by authority of Dr. William Dennis at University Hospital.
Carmen N. Munoz, 78, of Bragg City died when another driver failed to yield and pulled into the path of Munoz's vehicle. The crash occurred in Pemiscot County on Missouri Route J at Missouri Route C west of Deering. Munoz was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the vehicle that failed to yield sustained serious injuries; that driver was wearing a seat belt. Dr. Walt Short pronounced Munoz dead at Twin Rivers Hospital.
Donald W. Egelston, 63, of Lincoln died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway, crossed the median, and struck a northbound vehicle head on. The crash occurred in Pettis County on northbound U.S. 65 Highway at Manilla Road. Egelston was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. A passenger in Egelston's vehicle sustained serious injuries; it is unknown whether or not he was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the vehicle Egelston's vehicle struck sustained serious injuries; she was wearing a seat belt. A passenger in the vehicle Egelston's vehicle struck sustained moderate injuries; she was wearing a seat belt. Dr. Jacob Quick pronounced Egelston dead at University Hospital.
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