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 September 13, 2017

MSHP: No fatalities over holiday

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) has released the traffic and boating figures for the Labor Day Weekend period and there were no drownings during that holiday.

Troop F troopers participated in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) from Friday, September 1, 2017, through Monday September 4, 2017, meaning every available officer was on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists.

Troop F investigated 50 traffic crashes that included eight injuries and one fatality. Troopers made 11 DWI arrests and 12 drug arrests.

The patrol did work four boating accidents during the counting period.

Troopers assigned to Lake of the Ozarks worked extended shifts -12 hours - during the Labor Day weekend. There were zero boating fatalities over the 2017 Labor Day holiday period in Troop F.

Troopers investigated four boating crashes involving two injuries. There were no reported drownings. They arrested seven people for boating while intoxicated.

The first accident happened on September 1 at the 19 mile marker. According to the MSHP, a 1985 Bayliner, driven by Danny Friend, 70, of Osage Beach, MO, was fueling the boat and not using the blower.

When he went to start the boat the engine compartment exploded causing minor damage to the vessel. Friend and a female passenger were not injured in the incident.

The next day at the 10 Mile marker at Lynch Hollow Cove 2017 a Mariton Pontoon driven by Joseph Suggs, 61, of Overland Park, KS, was pulling Richard Kiser, 38, of New Orleans, LA, when his arm got caught in a rope that attached to the tube.

He received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.

On September 3 around 9 a.m., a 2005 Fountain Poker Run was at the 3.9 mile maker of the main channel when it experienced mechanical failure, causing the boat to capsize.

The driver, Roger Neighbors, 62, of Shawnee KS and the occupant, Nancy Rogers, 62 also of Shawnee, KS, received no injures in the accident. Both were wearing a safety device.

Three hours later at the 13.1 mile marker of the Osage Arm, a 2017 Regal Boat, driven by Glenn Heitmann, 56, of Ballwin, MO, hit a large wave causing the occupant of the boat, Holly Heitmann, 27, of St. Louis, MO, to become airborne and impact the boat.

She received moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. She was not wearing a safety device.

The last boating incident happened on September 4 at 9 a.m. at the .8 mile marker of Jennings Branch Cove.

According to the MSHP, a 2015 Premier 290, driven by Mark Onstott, 64, of Swansea, was attempting to dock when it struck a secured and unoccupied 1977 Carver Cruiser.

The MSHP said no injury information was available. The Premier received minor damage and the Carver received no damage.

There were no fatalities on the lake area roads during the holiday period but Troop F (which covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County, among other counties) did report one fatality in their area and that was in Gasconade County.

That accident happened on Route B .2 miles north of Route C around 9:45 p.m. on September 1.

The MSHP reported that a 1994 Ford Mustang, driven by Cheryl Ashton, 60 of Owensville, MO, was southbound when the she went off the right side of the road, overcorrected and returned to the roadway.

The vehicle then went off the left side of the road, struck a road sign and a bridge railing, became airborne and struck the ground and a tree and caught fire. She was wearing a safety device.

Only two accidents on the roads were reported by the MSHP in the lake area during the counting period. The first accident occurred September 2 on Redwood Circle 185 feet south of Taylors Acres Dr in Morgan County.

A Red Honda Rancher ATV, driven by Curt Adams, 63 of Arnold, MO, was southbound when the vehicle overturned ejecting the driver. He was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital with serious injuries. The MSHP said he was not wearing a safety device.

The next morning at 12:31 a.m. a 2004 Chevy Silverado, driven by Brandon Schulte, 17, of Iberia, MO, was westbound on Highway 52 East of Highway PP in Miller County when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, became airborne and struck a tree.

He received serious injuries and was transported by Staff for Life to University Hospital. The MSHP said he was not wearing a safety device.