The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

 

Published February 8, 2023

Two people die in two separate accidents

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Two people were killed in two separate accidents last week with one of them blamed on slick roads.

The first fatality occurred on Sunday January 29 in Camden County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) a 2018 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Shaylin Torimino, 19, of Climax Springs, MO, was traveling north on Highway 7 north of Bollinger Creek Road at 9:41 a.m. when her vehicle crossed the centerline and hit a southbound 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Matthew Hallquist, 32, of Camdenton, MO, head-on.

Hallquist was pronounced dead at the scene by Camden County Medical Examiner Crystal Lloyd at 9:56 a.m.

Torimino suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, MO.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

This is Troop F’s third fatality for January and third for 2023.

The second fatality took place later that same day (6:20 p.m.) in Morgan County when a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado, driven by Bridget Burgoon, 20, of St. Louis, MO, was westbound on Highway 50 east of Old Highway 50 when the vehicle lost control on the slick covered roadway and spun into the path of a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Chad Guendelsberger, 43, of Weston, MO.

Burgoon was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance and was pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m. by Dr. Matthew Greenstein.

Guendelsberger received minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, MO.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

This is Troop F’s fourth fatality for January and fourth for 2023.

Weather was a factor in another accident that same day.

At 5:00 p.m. on Route U north of Route EE in Miller County, a 2005 Ford Mustang, driven by Kathy Talmage, 63, of Crocker, MO, was traveling east when the MSHP said she was “driving too fast for road conditions.”

The Mustang went off the left side of the road, overturned and hit a fence.

Talmage suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.

A passenger in the car, Myra Logan, 43, also of Crocker, MO, received serious injuries and was taken to Lake Regional Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt but Talmage was.

The Mustang was totaled in the accident.

At 6:20 p.m. that same day a 2000 Honda Civic, driven by Macey Novogradac, 31, of Osage Beach, MO, was traveling south on Highway 5 at Gravois Heights Road in Morgan County when she attempted to pass another vehicle.

The MSHP stated that she hit a northbound oncoming 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Meghan Milligan, 28, of Stover, “after not maintaining sufficient distance to complete pass safely.”

The Honda went off the right side of the roadway and overturned into a driveway.

Novogradac had moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. Both involved were wearing their seat belts. The Chevrolet had minor damage while the Honda was totaled.

At 6:59 p.m., Macey Novogradac was charged with DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) Prior and C&I (Careless and Imprudent) Driving. She was released for medical treatment.

The next morning a single-vehicle accident sent two to the hospital.

According to the MSHP, at 9:15 a.m. on Highway 5 north of Dry Hollow Road in Camden County, a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner, driven by Joshua Johnson, 41, of Bland, MO, was traveling north when the vehicle began skidding and sliding and went off the right side of the road.

It then collided with an embankment and overturned ejecting Johnson and a passenger, Emily Compton, 36, also of Bland, MO.

Both suffered moderate injuries and both were taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. Neither was wearing a seat belt. The Toyota was totaled in the crash.

Another single-vehicle accident last Tuesday sent a Richland man to the hospital.

At 11:30 a.m. on Route A west of Carol Court in Camden County, Dennis Atiles 69, of Richland MO, was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger west when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, went off the right side of the road, overcorrected, went off the left side of the road and hit a tree.

He received moderate injuries and was taken by Air Ambulance to University Hospital. The MSHP said he was not wearing a seat belt. The truck was totaled in the accident.

A juvenile female was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident last Thursday evening.

According to the MSHP, at 5:53 p.m. on Dry Ridge School Road west of Chapel Bluff Road in Camden County, a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by a 16-year-old female from Buffalo, MO, was westbound when her vehicle crossed the center of the roadway and hit an eastbound 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by a 16-year-old male from Macks Creek, MO.

The female suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. Neither of the drivers was wearing a seat belt and both vehicles were totaled in the crash.

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