Franklin County crash sends two Missouri women to hospital
Connie Lutz, 59, and Melanie Trentmann, 38, were hospitalized Friday afternoon after a two vehicle crash on Missouri 100 in Franklin County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Lutz and Trentmann were traveling eastbound in a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan when they were forced to stop because of traffic. Samuel Bartlett, 33, who was behind the women in a 2004 Freightliner van, failed to notice that traffic had stopped and rear ended the Grand Caravan.
Lutz and Trentmann were taken to St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri. Lutz’s injuries were listed as serious while Trentmann’s were listed as minor. The investigating officer did not indicate that Bartlett sustained any injuries.
The crash report did not specify whether a citation was issued to either driver.
In most rear end collision cases there is a doctrine that says the at-fault driver’s negligence is presumed. The “rear end collision doctrine, as it is commonly referred to, is based on the reasoning that all drivers are required to be in control of their vehicles at all times.
