Cooper County crash injures five
Five Boonville residents were hospitalized Friday after a two-vehicle crash on Missouri 87 just south of Jackson Road.
The accident occurred when a 1997 Pontiac, driven by Christopher Dewolf, 24, attempted to pass another vehicle while coming over the crest of a hill. Dewolf collided head-on with an oncoming 2001 Pontiac, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Two passengers in Dewolf’s vehicle, Emily Hawthorne, 16, and Joshua Schmitz, 16, were airlifted with serious injuries to University Medical Center in Columbia. The occupants of the second vehicle, Tyler Elliott, 35, and Belinda Haralson, 31, also suffered serious injuries and were taken by ambulance to University Medical Center. Dewolf himself sought treatment for minor injuries, according to the crash report.
From the crash report description, it appears that Dewolf made a negligent decision to pass on a hill with limited visibility. These accident descriptions, however, are just the opinion of the investigating officer and considered hearsay in court unless the officer actually witnessed the crash or performed an accident reconstruction. Further investigation by local authorities and a personal injury attorney may be necessary to determine all the specifics of this crash.
