Fatal Crashes in Missouri Are Up; Jefferson County Numbers Are Flat

In April, Billie J. Grass, 41, of High Ridge, was traveling south on Old Sugar Creek Road when her vehicle failed to negotiate a curve to the right, near Chott Drive, and left the roadway, striking a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

One fatal crash March 10 occurred when a driver was killed when his vehicle caught fire after striking a traffic light pole at Romaine Creek Road and Hwy. 141 in the Jefferson County portion of Fenton.

The Jefferson County fatalities have led to the county being on pace to match last year's first-half total, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol's statistics.

That bucks the trend set by the rest of the state. The number of fatal crashes in Missouri is up by 62 compared to the first half of last year, according to a June 25 highway patrol news release.

The increase follows six consecutive years of declining fatalities caused by crashes, according to the release. More than two-thirds of the fatalities involved people who weren't wearing a seat belt.

"Please give your full attention to driving. Follow all traffic laws, and remember that seat belts can and do save lives," said Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in the news release.

So far, 10 crashes have led to 10 deaths in Jefferson County this year. That matches the pace set in 2011, and is nearly half the total recorded in 2010.

Crashes in Jefferson County — Data through June each year
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Fatal crashes 10 9 17 18 19 16 Fatalities 10 10 18 18 20 17 Source: Missouri State Highway Patrol.