Fatal crashes increase slightly across Southeast region

Statewide, fatal crashes on Missouri highways dropped about 1 percent from last year, but in Southeast Missouri, the number of fatal crashes has risen slightly.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics, there have been 328 statewide fatalities so far this year.

In the same period last year, that number was 334.

The number of fatal crashes so far this year in Southeast Missouri was 24, according to figures from Troop E headquarters in Poplar Bluff. Last year at this time, there were 23 fatal crashes.

The most recent fatal crash in the area was about 5 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 55 north of Cape Girardeau.

Mary Grega, 66, and Delores Scott, 76, of St. Louis, were killed when their car crossed the median and struck another head-on.

Grega and Scott were both pronounced dead at St. Francis Medical Center.

In the second vehicle were driver Quender Johnson, 52, his son, Anthony, 17, and his granddaughter, Fasharia Nixon, 2, all of Charleston.

Quender Johnson was listed in stable condition Wednesday at St. Francis Medical Center. The other two were injured, but released from the hospital earlier in the week.