One killed in accident as winter weather causes travel problems

Thursday, November 20, 2014

PORTAGEVILLE -- As the wintry precipitation moved into New Madrid County Sunday evening, a motorist was killed after being ejected from his vehicle.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 7:42 p.m. on county road 425 south of county road 422, three miles east of Portageville, as the northbound vehicle driven by Donald R. Johnson, 54, of New Madrid ran off the road and struck a ditch. Johnson was ejected from the vehicle, which then came to a rest on him.

Johnson was pronounced dead at at the scene at 8:30 p.m. by New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle and transported to DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. The death is the 50th fatality in the Troop E area this year.

As a result of the slushy and in some cases ice covered roadways, several school closings were reported Monday. New Madrid County R-1 School District and the school at New Hamburg canceled classes for the day as did Bloomfield R-XIV, East Prairie R-2, Kelso C-7, Oran, Scott County R-IV (Kelly), Scott City R-1 and Scott County Central.

Drivers should remain cautious traveling on Southeast Missouri roadways. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

Today and tonight will be very cold with winds chills in the teens most of the day, then falling to zero to five above tonight as the lows drop to 10 to 15 degrees in many areas, forecasters said.

There is a small chance of wintry precipitation Thursday night and again Friday night as rain moves back into the area. The low Thursday night is predicted at around 29 while temperatures are Friday will reach a high of 44 and a low around 33.

In addition to the fatal crash, one other accident was reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Southeast Missouri.

A Tennessee woman was injured after her vehicle overturned Sunday in New Madrid County.

According to the Patrol's report, the wreck occurred at 4:55 p.m. on Interstate 55 at Portageville as the northbound truck driven by Brenda C. Weddle, 63, of Gleason, Tenn., ran off the road, struck a guardrail and overturned.

Weddle received moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

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