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 January 15, 2020

Climax Springs man dead, two injured in accident

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – A Climax Springs man is dead and two others injured after a vehicle struck all three.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) on January 8 at 9:48 p.m., on Highway Z just south of Coffman Bend Drive, “Victim 1” exited his vehicle and was in the roadway.

“Victim 2” saw Victim 1, pulled over and exited his vehicle in an attempt to assist Victim 1. “Victim 3” observed Victims 1 and 2 and also stopped and tried to assist.

At that time, a 1998 Ford 150 struck all three of the subjects.

Phillip Johnston, 67, of Climax Springs, MO, was pronounced dead at the scene by Medical Examiner Crystal Lloyd.

Sean Johnston, 43, also of Climax Springs, MO, received serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.

Gerald Beck, 49, of Climax Springs, MO, also received serious injuries and was transported by private vehicle to Lake Regional Hospital.

This is Troop F’s first fatality of the year.

In other accidents last week:

Earlier that same day a single-vehicle accident sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries.

According to the MSHP, at 11:05 a.m. on Route JJ west of Route T, a 2008 GMC Sierra, driven by Thomas Bradshaw, 51, of Stoutland, MO, was westbound when the vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne and struck two trees.

Bradshaw received serious injuries and was flown to Cox Hospital in Springfield. The MSHP said he was not wearing a safety device. The GMC was totaled in the accident.

At 8:02 a.m. that same morning another one-vehicle accident landed another man in the hospital.

A 2012 International Work Star, driven by Kyle Smith, 32, of Camdenton, MO, was traveling west on Business Park Road just east of Lower Business Park Road when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve.

The vehicle then ran off the right side of the road, slid and returned to the roadway and then overturned.

Smith received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. He was wearing a safety device.

The vehicle received extensive damage in the crash.

On Sunday January 5, a deer is being blamed for an accident that sent a juvenile to the hospital.

At 8:25 p.m., a 2000 Nissan Xterra, driven by Kenneth Bentrup, 22, of Osage Beach, MO, was southbound on Route D north of Jack North Road when the vehicle swerved to avoid a deer and traveled off the right side of the road and struck several trees.

Bentrup received minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.

A juvenile (15 years old) received serious injuries and was taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance. Both the driver and the passenger were wearing their safety devices.

The vehicle was totaled in the accident.

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