SEMO resident among seven deaths Memorial Day weekend from traffic, boating accidents

Seven people died in traffic crashes and boating accidents over the 2020 Memorial Day weekend, including one in the Troop E area.

The counting period included over 300 traffic crashes, and ran from 6 p.m., Friday, May 22, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 25.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated the following over the 2020 Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to a press release:

Traffic Statistics — Crashes, 341; Injuries, 112; Fatalities, 5; DWI, 111; Drug Arrests, 112

Boating Statistics — Crashes, 10; Injuries, 7; Fatalities, 0; Drownings, 2; BWI, 11; Drug Arrests, 3

One person drowned Friday, May 22. Frankie O. Mills, 50, of Rockaway Beach, Missouri, drowned after he fell from a boat dock into the water. The drowning occurred in Taney County in Lake Taneycomo. Deputy Coroner Bryan Koppitz pronounced Mills dead at the scene. Mills was not wearing a life jacket when the incident occurred.

Another person drowned Saturday, May 23. Fredgrikas M. Hardiman, 34, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, exited a boat, was swept downstream by a swift current and went under a log jam. The drowning occurred in McDonald County on the Elk River one mile north of Noel, Missouri. Assistant McDonald County Coroner Jonathan Fletcher pronounced Hardiman dead at the scene.

Troopers investigated five of the six traffic crash fatalities. Two fatalities occurred in the Troop C, Weldon Spring area. One fatality occurred in each of the following areas: Troop A, Lee’s Summit, Troop E, Poplar Bluff, and Troop F, Jefferson City.

Four fatalities occurred on Saturday, May 23.

These included Nicholas L. Hampton, 25, of Kennett, who died when the vehicle in which he was a passenger ran off the roadway, and the driver overcorrected into the path of another vehicle resulting in the crash. The crash occurred in Dunklin County on U.S. Highway 412 at east city limits of Kennett. Hampton was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Dunklin County Coroner James Powell pronounced Hampton dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and sustained serious injuries in the crash. All three passengers in the other vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The driver sustained moderate injuries; two passengers both sustained minor injuries.

One person died on Sunday, May 24, and another on Memorial Day.