Bridge collision, motorcycle accident among Sunday crashes

The Missouri State Highway Patrol was busy Sunday responding to crashes in Southeast Missouri involving a motorcycle, a bridge collision and one car's attempt to overtake another.

The first crash occurred on Interstate 55 near Matthews, Mo. At 1:55 p.m. a 2001 GMC driven by Sandra K. McCulley, 49, of Cape Girardeau was traveling southbound when it ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a bridge, the highway patrol said.

McCulley was taken by ambulance to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo., where she was treated for moderate injuries.

A second accident happened around 4:35 p.m. at 1512 N. Frisco St. in Chaffee, Mo. According to the highway patrol, a 2008 Harley-Davidson driven by Dustin L. Sitzes, 33, of Branson, Mo., was traveling northbound when he lost control and overturned.

The vehicle then slid into the southbound lane, striking head-on a 1999 Mercury driven by Terryi L. Jobe, 38, of Chaffee. Sitzes was taken by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau and then was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he was treated for serious injuries. The driver of the Mercury was not injured.

A third crash occurred at 7:55 p.m. at mile marker 122 in the northbound lanes of I-55. A 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Betty Y. Taggart, 64, of Ballwin, Mo., was traveling in the left lane and a 2005 Buick Rendezvous driven by Rita A. Weber, 57, of Perryville, Mo., was in the right lane.

The highway patrol said the Mercury attempted to overtake the Buick, which then changed lanes. The Mercury struck the rear of the Buick and both vehicles came to a rest in the center median.

While Weber did not sustain injuries, Taggart was treated for moderate injuries at Saint Francis Medical Center. The passenger in the Buick, Brad H. Weber, 57, of Perryville was taken by air evac to Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment for serious injuries.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628