The life of one Noel woman was claimed by a wreck that occurred at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday, June 25, on Highway 59 in Anderson.
Initial reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol state that Billie M. Newton, 43, was travelling northbound in a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica driven by Shannon D. Cupp, 42, of Anderson, when their vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound 2006 Nissan Frontier head-on.
The driver of the Frontier, Rudy C. Faulkner, 65, of Noel, and the passenger, Robert H. McDonald, 59, of Joplin, were life-flighted to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. Cupp was taken to Mercy Hospital of Neosho by ambulance.
It is not known whether any involved were wearing a safety belt, but both drivers, Cupp and Faulkner, were tested for a heightened blood alcohol content while hospitalized. Prosecuting attorney Bill Dobbs says that it could take 30 to 60 days laboratory to process the test.
If results indicate that a surviving driver was inebriated at the time of the event, that person could face charges of driving while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter or even aggravated vehicular manslaughter.
Missouri classifies both driving while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter as class C felonies, punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up to seven years in prison. Aggravated vehicular manslaughter is a class B felony in Missouri and punishable by five to 15 years of incarceration. It is defined as being committed when a death results from a person negligently operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
General News on 07/02/2015