Three people were killed and three were seriously injured in a trio of area accidents over the weekend, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
A 78-year-old Doniphan man was killed and two people from Poplar Bluff seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, two miles west of Doniphan on Highway 142.
According to the MSHP, Robert L. Collett, 78, of Doniphan was operating a 1998 Ford Ranger westbound when it crossed the center of the road and struck an eastbound 2012 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Daniel A. Venable, 39, of Poplar Bluff.
Collett was pronounced dead at the scene by Ripley County coroner Mike Jackson at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and his body was taken to Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. He is the 41st fatality in Troop E this year.
Venable was transported by Survival Flight to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, while a passenger in the Silverado, Amanda R. Venable, 38, of Poplar Bluff, was transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
Two people from Kentucky were killed in a two-vehicle accident at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, on U.S. Highway 62, three miles east of Wyatt.
According to the MSHP, Travis A. Vincent, 42, of Bernie was operating a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado westbound when it crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2022 Harley Davidson operated by Timmy R. Strunk, 47, of Somerset, Kentucky, causing the motorcycle to overturn and eject both riders.
Strunk was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Ghanem Abusbeigh at 6:16 p.m., while a passenger on the Harley Davidson, Karen R. Strunk, 57, of Somerset, Kentucky, was taken by helicopter to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Karen Strunk was pronounced dead at 7:03 p.m. by Dr. Joseph McAdams.
The Strunks were the 39th and 40th fatalities in Troop E this year.
Vincent was taken by ambulance to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Vincent was arrested in Mississippi County on suspicion of two counts of felony driving while drug-impared causing the death of another, careless and imprudent driving involving an accident and a Butler County felony warrant for dangerous drugs. He was booked at the Mississippi County jail.
A 48-year-old Ellington man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident at 12:40 p.m. Friday on Highway 106, three miles east of Eminence.
According to the MSHP, Westley P. Blackwell, 48, of Ellington was operating a 2003 Harley Davidson eastbound when it ran off the right side of the road and overturned.
Blackwell was transported by Air Evac to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.