A Neosho man was killed Friday night when the motorcycle he was driving was hit from behind by a deputy of the Newton County Sheriff’s Department. That deputy has since been placed on leave.
Sheriff Ken Copeland said Sgt. David B. Trimble was responding to an emergency call just before 9 p.m. Friday with his vehicle’s full lights and sirens on. Trimble was southbound on Gateway Drive, about a mile and a half south of Joplin, when his vehicle struck Cory E. Sheppard’s motorcycle, also southbound, the sheriff said.
Sheppard, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:45 p.m. by Newton County deputy coroner Lee Ireland, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. His body was taken to Parker Mortuary in Joplin, the patrol said.
“At this time it looks like nothing more than a tragic, tragic accident,” Copeland said by telephone Saturday.
Trimble, who has been with the sheriff’s department for about nine years, has been placed on paid administrative leave, Copeland said. Trimble was not injured in the wreck.
“He’s not going to work for a few days until we get it figured out,” Copeland said. “It’s just common procedure that’s done any time an officer is involved in a fatality,” such as a traffic crash or a shooting.
Copeland said it will be the responsibility of the state highway patrol to fully investigate the crash, as it routinely does for accidents occurring within the county and outside city limits.
It was unclear Saturday how long that investigation could take.
The highway patrol officer who responded Friday to the scene of the crash, Cpl. Tyler Moreland, was not available Saturday for further comment.
A team from within Copeland’s department will also review the wreck, which the sheriff said is standard departmental procedure whenever a deputy is involved in an accident.
Crime & Courts
Newton County sheriff’s deputy placed on leave after fatal wreck
- Crime & Courts
-
-
Alcohol cited as factor in Grand Lake boat crash that killed two college students
Alcohol was one of several factors contributing to a boating accident on Grand Lake earlier this month that claimed the lives of two college students.
-
Hired hand won’t face death penalty in Vernon County murder case
The state has agreed not to seek the death penalty against Jeremy L. Maples in the murder of Belinda J. Beisly, but prosecutors have yet to take the option off the table for the victim’s husband, Bob T. Beisly II.
-
Former IRS worker gets probation after guilty plea to theft of funds
Pittsburg resident and former Internal Revenue Service employee Becky L. Book received two years probation after pleading guilty earlier this year to the theft of $26,449.65 in public funds.
-
Arma mother facing murder charge in sleeping baby’s death
Heather Buckalew fell asleep on a couch with her 4-month-old baby after a night last summer drinking beer with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, Donald Harvey, got up to go to work a few hours later and spotted his son, lying face down on a pillow between the back of the couch and his sleeping mother.
-
Vandals cause $37,000 in damage at Joplin business
A Joplin business owner was the victim of a weekend vandalism spree that resulted in an estimated $37,000 in damages and theft, in addition to putting the company out of service for at least two days.
-
Two plead guilty to post-tornado wire theft
Two defendants pleaded guilty Monday to stealing copper wire from utility poles in the wake of the May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin. Timothy M. Silveria, 45, of Joplin, and Nycoa K. Kracht, 32, of Laurel, Ind., entered open pleas of guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to felony counts of theft from a public utility.
-
Firefighters douse blaze inside wall; no injuries cited
The Joplin Fire Department used thermal-imaging equipment Wednesday night to detect a hidden fire inside a residence.
-
Exeter resident hurt in accident in Barry County
An Exeter resident was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 2:15 p.m. Thursday on Missouri Highway 76, two miles west of Exeter in Barry County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
-
Pittsburg couple arrested; children taken out of home
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A Pittsburg couple was arrested and their three children removed from their care Wednesday when narcotics officers allegedly seized marijuana, methamphetamine and other items in a search of their home.
-
Joplin man arrested on felony charge of past sexual abuse
A 16-year-old girl’s recent disclosures to her mother regarding past sexual abuse has led to the arrest and charging of a Joplin man.
- More Crime & Courts Headlines
-
Alcohol cited as factor in Grand Lake boat crash that killed two college students
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
