Snow a factor in auto crashes for Warrensburg, surrounding areas
Feb 1, 2008, 11:29
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The blinding snow and icy roads resulted in numerous accidents in Johnson County Thursday afternoon and evening.The Missouri Highway Patrol closed 13 Highway between Warrensburg and Higginsville for about an hour, after accidents blocked the roadway.Three people were injured in a three-vehicle accident on 13, just north of NW 625 at 4 p.m. Martha S. Fiene, 49, of Blackburn, Mo., and Toni L. Runyon, 26, of Centerview, Mo., were transported to Western Missouri Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries. The third driver, Mehrdad Haghighat-Jou, 44, of Braymer, Mo., refused medical treatment for minor injuries, the highway patrol reported.
Investigators said Haghighat-Jou lost control of his southbound vehicle, which crossed the centerline, and struck the driver’s side of Fiene’s northbound car, then ran head-on into the car driven by Runyon.Haghighat-Jou’s car sustained extensive damage and the other two vehicles were demolished. Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies assisted three highway patrolmen with the investigation, which is continuing.About the same time, another head-on collision on Route D, a mile south of U.S. 50 highway, injured five people.According to the highway patrol, a car driven by Susan J. Vongretzinger, 33, of Knob Noster, slid across the centerline and collided with a car driven by Kimberly A. Melching, 36, of Knob Noster.Vongretzinger and her passenger, Luke K. Vongretzinger, 3, of Knob Noster, were taken to Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg for treatment. The investigator said the child was not wearing a seat belt.Melching and two children, Jordan Melching, 10, and Bryce Melching, 6, were transported to Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia. All three sustained moderate injuries, the MSHP reported. Knob Noster police assisted with the investigation.Warrensburg police investigated 14 accidents, mostly fender-benders, during and after the snow storm.