Gasconade County Republican

Following calls last Wednesday for Owensville Fire Department personnel to assist with storm cleanup in town, five motor vehicle accident responses were logged through Monday night. No injuries were reported in the final call. (See page 3 for details on the side-swipe crash on Thursday between a local man and trucker from Gasconade, Mo.).

At 8:36 a.m. Friday, a report was made of a car off a Route ZZ embankment east of Highway 19. Authorities learned the driver left the scene sometime overnight.

That night, however, firemen were called to extricate two Jefferson City residents, Joshua L. Eaton, 35, and his passenger, Ciera A. Kolb, 23, from a 1995 Ford Taurus struck by Kaitlin A. Wells, 18, of Cuba. Wells was attempting to enter U.S. 50 from Highway 19 north in a 1999 Pontiac and turned into Eaton’s westbound path. Wells sought her own medical treatment after family members arrived at the scene of the 9:53 p.m. crash which had U.S. 50 shut down for an hour. Eaton and Kolb both were transported by Gerald ambulance to Mercy Washington for treatment of moderate injuries. Kolb was not wearing a seat belt; Eaton and Wells were. Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Tye DeCramer said Wells faces a state charge of failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

At 6:50 p.m. Saturday, Owensville police and firemen handled a two-vehicle incident in the 1800 block of Krausetown Road. Police Chief Robert Rickerd said their investigation is continuing but reported a 1992 Ford pickup truck driven by Mark A. Ruff, 48, Owensville, rear-ended a Grand Prix driven by Rhonda K. Meyer, 23, Owensville, after she applied her brakes. “The other vehicle was following to close,” Rickerd said Meyer reported. “He runs into her.” Both vehicles were heading out of town. A male passenger in Meyer’s car, got out of the car. Police said Ruff reversed his truck down the hill and ran off into a ditch. “He was fearing an altercation and ran off the road,” said Rickerd. Meyer was transported to Mercy complaining of back pain. There was no altercation.