The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published October 23, 2019

Deer gets the blame for evening automobile accident

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – A close encounter with a deer left a man with minor injuries and minor damage in an accident last week.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) the incident happened last Tuesday (October 15) in Camden County at 6:00 p.m. on Route C 2,255 feet north of Ballenger Road when a 2006 Pontiac Torrent, driven by Travis McDaniel, 35, of Montreal, MO, was northbound when the vehicle swerved to avoid a deer.

The vehicle crossed over the center of the road and traveled off the left side of the roadway where it struck a ditch.

At 6:56 p.m. McDaniel was charged with the following:

• DWI – Alcohol Persistent Offender
• Fail to Maintain right half of the roadway resulting in a crash
• No Insurance

He was released to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of his minor injuries. He was wearing a safety device.

The MSHP statistics show that McDaniel’s encounter with the deer follows the warning sent out recently by the patrol.

The majority of deer strike crashes occur in October and November each year, with the largest number taking place in November.

Although deer strikes can occur at any time, most occur between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6:59 a.m. and then again from 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.

In 2018 drivers in the state experienced 4,090 traffic crashes where deer-vehicle strikes occurred, which averages out to one deer strike occurred every 2.1 hours in the state.

In these crashes, there were six fatalities and 415 people were injured.

In other accidents last week in the lake area:

A two-vehicle accident left a female with minor injuries.

According to the MSHP, on Sunday October 13 at 9:40 a.m., a 2003 Toyota Camry, driven by Clifford Brookshier, 32, of Springfield, MO, was westbound on Highway 54 at Route AA when the vehicle slowed down and was struck in the rear by a 2006 Ford Focus driven by a 16-year-old from Eldridge, MO.

A passenger in the Camry, Tristan Brookshier, 32, also of Springfield, MO, received minor injuries and was transported to Lake Regional Hospital by Ambulance.

Both vehicles received moderate damage and were towed from the scene. Both drivers and the occupant were wearing safety devices.

A two-vehicle accident last Friday morning sent a Boonville, MO, woman to the Hospital.

At 9:55 a.m. on Mule Drive approximately 50 feet south of Highway 52 in Morgan County, the MSHP said a 2016 Ford Taurus, driven by Beverly Hollowell, 55, of Boonville, MO, was making a right turn onto Mule Drive from Highway 52.

At that point a 2015 Ford Fusion, driven by Sean Wall, 29, of Excelsior Springs, MO, failed to slow down for congested traffic ahead and traveled off the right side of the road and then struck the Taurus on Mule Drive.

Hollowell received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City.

The Taurus received extensive damage and the Fusion was listed as totaled. Both drivers were wearing a safety device.

On the lake there was one accident last Saturday that sent a Rocky Mount, MO, man to the hospital.

According to the MSHP, a 2013 Lowe Tritoon, driven by Patrick Thomas, 58, was northbound at the .2 Mile Marker of the Gravois Arm when he became disoriented during the night and drove the vessel directly into an island.

Thomas received moderate injuries and was transported by Miller County EMS to Lake Regional Hospital. He was not wearing a safety device. The boat received extensive damage and was towed from the scene.