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 8, 2021

Two-vehicle accident leaves two Iberia men dead


LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Two Iberia men are dead following a two-vehicle accident last Sunday, August 29.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) at 12:50 p.m. on Highway 42 east of Spring Branch Road in Miller County, a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado, driven by Thomas Spencer, 41, of Iberia, MO, was eastbound when the vehicle went off the right side of the road.

Spencer overcorrected and returned to the road and crossed the centerline and hit a 2011 GMC Canyon, being driven by Zachary Patro, 31, also of Iberia, MO.

Spencer and Zachary Patro were pronounced dead at the scene at 1:05 p.m., by acting Miller County Coroner Joshua Wilson. The MSHP said neither was wearing a seat belt.

A passenger in the Canyon, Jeffrey Patro, 57 (father of Zachary) suffered serious injuries and was transported by MU Air to University Hospital in Columbia, MO. The MSHP stated he also was not wearing a seat belt.

This is Troop F’s 37th and 38th fatality for 2021.

A Stover man started September with minor injuries after a one-vehicle accident.

At 7:15 a.m. on September 1, Kenneth Larock Simpson, 29, of Stover, MO, was driving a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 south on Route W just past Indian Creek Lane in Morgan County when the vehicle ran off the road and hit a fence.

Simpson received minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to Capitol Region Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt. The GMC had moderate damage in the crash.

Another one-vehicle accident occurred in Miller County that same morning at 10:00 a.m.

The MSHP reported that a 2017 Chrysler 200, driven by Jonathan Potts, 48, of Russellville, MO, was traveling north on Highway 87 813 feet before Bridge A09-27 in Miller County, when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, went off the left side of the road, struck a cliff and overturned.

Potts suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Capitol Region Hospital by EMS. He was wearing a seat belt. The vehicle had extensive damage in the accident.

Another single-vehicle accident the next day left a man with minor injuries.

At 6:30 p.m. on Highway 5 just south of Business Route 5, a 2003 Chevrolet S10, driven by Dalton Callahan, 18, of Lebanon, MO, was traveling north when the vehicle failed to negotiate a turn, went off the right side of the road and hit a sign.

Callahan received minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt. The truck had moderate damage.

The accidents for the Labor Day Holiday period were not available at press time and should be in next week’s edition.

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