The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

May 5, 2008

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/policeandfire.gif" border=0 > Several injured in traffic accidents on roads in area


Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 11:03 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 71 at Route OO in Jane in McDonald County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The driver of one of the vehicles, Georgia J. Bland, 76, of Bentonville, Ark., and a passenger in the other vehicle, Marcia J. Hetzel, 56, of Brentwood, Tenn., were taken to Northwest Regional Medical Center in Bentonville, the patrol said.

Bland’s northbound pickup truck turned into the path of a southbound car driven by William R. Hetzel, 56, of Brentwood, the patrol said.

n Three Anderson residents were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 6:21 p.m. Sunday on Highway 43, five miles north of Southwest City in McDonald County, the state patrol said.

The driver of one of the vehicles, Danita R. Moore, 42, and her two passengers, Keaton C. Moore, 1, and Kyla Moore, 3, were taken by ambulance to Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, the patrol said.

Their pickup truck was northbound and attempting to pass a trailer truck when the truck swerved and sideswiped their vehicle, forcing it off the road, the patrol said. The Moore pickup then struck a utility pole and overturned, the patrol said. The trailer truck reportedly left the scene of the accident.

n Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 4 p.m. Sunday on Highway 66, five miles west of Joplin in Jasper County, the state patrol said.

One of the drivers, Perto Edgar, 55, of Miami, Okla., and a passenger in the other vehicle, Rebecca Jimerson, 38, of Baxter Springs, Kan., were taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, the patrol said.

Edgar was southbound on a side road and pulled into the path of a westbound car driven by Gary L. Jimerson, 34, of Baxter Springs, the patrol said.

n Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 5 p.m. Sunday on 26th Street at Wall Avenue in Joplin, according to a Police Department report.

Two passengers in a vehicle driven by Carolyn L. Lovell, 39, of Joplin, were taken to an unspecified local hospital, police said. The injured passengers were Sandra Ogle, 58, of Joplin, and Jamie L. Lovell, 13, hometown not available.

Lovell’s vehicle was northbound when it was struck by an eastbound car driven by Matthew B. Wood, 19, of Carl Junction, the report said.

n Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 2:23 p.m. Sunday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 44, a mile from Joplin’s Main Street exit, according to a Police Department report.

One of the drivers, Virginia L. Settle, 39, and her passenger, Shirley A. Utley, 65, both of Joplin, were taken by ambulance to Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, the report said.

Settle’s vehicle was eastbound and passing a truck rig driven by Betty Hamme, 54, of Springfield, when the rig started to change lanes and struck Settle’s vehicle, forcing it into the median, the report said.