7 die in crashes in Missouri during holiday weekend

KSDK -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol said seven people lost their lives in traffic crashes on Missouri roads during the Memorial Day weekend.

Three fatalities occurred on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Clyde O'Kain, 46, of St. Louis, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving was struck in the driver's side by another vehicle. The crash occurred at the intersection of Delmar and North Skinker. The St. Louis Police Department investigated the crash.

Charles S. Wix, 51, of Salisbury, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving traveled off the north side of the roadway, went airborne, and rolled down an embankment into the middle fork of the Chariton River. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 24 two miles east of Salisbury in Chariton County. Wix was extracted from the vehicle and transported to Moberly Regional Hospital where Dr. Puckett pronounced him dead. Wix was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Angela D. Brown, 34, of Trenton, MO, died when she swerved to avoid striking a deer, then overcorrected. The vehicle then ran off the roadway, overturned, and ejected Brown and a passenger. The traffic crash occurred on northwest 52nd Avenue north of Edinburg, MO, in Grundy County. Grundy County Coroner Tom Eads pronounced Brown dead at Wright Memorial Hospital. Brown's passenger sustained minor injuries. Neither of them were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Sunday, May 24, 2009. Nicholas J. McCullough, 23, of Florissant, MO, died when he was struck by another vehicle after a previous traffic crash. The initial traffic crash occurred on eastbound Interstate 70 near U.S. Highway 94 in St. Charles County. McCollough was standing in the driver's door area of his vehicle at the time he was struck. A medic from St. Charles County Ambulance pronounced McCullough dead at the scene.

Billy R. Windberry, 44, of Doniphan, MO, died when his vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned. Windberry was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway HH south of County Road 342 in Butler County. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers pronounced Windberry dead at the scene.

Two people died in traffic crashes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2009. Ronald J. Politte, 60, of Cadet, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving exited the roadway, he overcorrected, drove off the left side of the roadway, and overturned several times. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 47 at the old Highway 47 loop in Washington County. Washington County Deputy Coroner Steve Hatfield pronounced Politte dead at the scene.

A passenger in Politte's vehicle sustained moderate injuries. Neither Politte nor his passenger were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Tabitha J. Madison-Triplett, 36, of Waverly, MO, died when her vehicle crossed into the path of another vehicle. The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 65 one mile south of U.S. Highway 24 in Lafayette County. Acting Coroner Deputy Daines pronounced Madison-Triplett dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash; he was not injured.

Last year, 11 people were killed during the three-day weekend.