Lanagan Accident Takes One Life

A single vehicle accident in Lanagan killed one person and seriously injured another in the early morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 4.

Billy W. Kemp, 27, of Springdale, Ark., was traveling northbound on Missouri Highway 59 shortly before 6 a.m. when he became distracted, ran off the left side of the road, and overturned into the bed of Indian Creek approximately half a mile from the highway's junction EE Highway.

According to a report released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kemp was not wearing a safety belt and, as a result, was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin and pronounced dead at 5:38 p.m. that evening.

The passenger in the vehicle, Renee N. Evans, 24, of Rogers, Ark., was transported to Mercy Hospital in Rogers with serious injuries. Reports indicate that she was wearing her safety belt.

General News on 02/11/2016