Two fatal accidents occurred on Thursday, killing four people — including a child — and injuring an adult, a teen and a toddler.
According to Sgt. Clark Parrott, Missouri State Highway Patrol responded at 8:26 a.m. to a one-vehicle wreck at the intersection of Township Line and County Road 470, 4 miles west of Poplar Bluff. A 2003 Chevy Tahoe operated by Patricia M. McIntosh, 43, of Poplar Bluff left the road and became airborne, striking a tree. McIntosh and two occupants, a 7-year-old male and Lacy M. Gilbertsen, 23, of Poplar Bluff, were pronounced dead at the scene by Butler County EMS. A 2-year-old male was transported by Air Evac to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis with moderate injuries.
Five members of the Butler County Fire Department rescue crew also responded. A source at the department said two passengers were extricated from the back seat and one from the front passenger seat. McIntosh was found ejected from the vehicle.
None of the occupants were wearing seat belts, according to MSHP’s crash report. They are the 44th, 45th and 46th fatalities in Troop E this year.
The crash was described as a two-vehicle crash in early reports but was updated to a one-vehicle crash.
MSHP cleared the scene around 1 p.m.
Patrolmen responded to the second one-vehicle accident at 11:36 a.m. in Ripley County. A 2006 Ford Mustang operated by a 16-year-old female was travelling southbound on Route T, 3 miles north of Oxly, when it ran off the left side of the road and overturned. Passenger Sherkil J. Reed, 31, of Poplar Bluff was pronounced dead at the scene by Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson at 11:50 a.m. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Both the driver and occupant Whitney D. Smith, 37, of Qulin were transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Medical Center with minor injuries. MSHP confirmed they had been wearing seat belts.
Reed is the 47th fatality for Troop E this year.
This story was updated to include names and further accident details at 4:40 p.m. Aug. 31.