Hayti woman killed, several others injured in holiday accidents

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- At least one Southeast Missouri resident died of traffic-related injuries over the Thanksgiving holiday.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 12:05 a.m. Thursday, on Interstate 55, one mile south of Hayti, motorist Stefany A. Tillman, 24, of Hayti ran her vehicle off the right side of the road. She overcorrected, causing the vehicle to run off the left side of the road and overturned. Tillman was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at 12:48 a.m. at the scene by Pemiscot County coroner Jim Brimhall and taken to German Funeral Home in Hayti.

Also, several residents were injured in accidents over the holiday.

On Wednesday, at 7:55 a.m., motorist Vernon H. Osborne, 66, of Williamsville was attempting to make a right hand turn into a private road on U.S. 60, one mile west of Dexter, when his vehicle was struck in the rear by the vehicle driven by David K. Bigham, 23, of Jackson. Bigham and his passenger, Ricky D. Stoffel, 51, of Jackson sustained moderate injuries and were taken to Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Osborne received minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

On Thanksgiving day at 1:30 p.m., Xavier V. Robinson, 34, of St. Ann was traveling on Interstate 55, one mile south of Hayti, when he traveled off the road, overturned numerous times and struck two guard rails. Robinson was seriously injured and transported by ambulance to Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti.

Two people were injured following a two-vehicle accident at 1:20 a.m. today near Advance. A car was parked in the road on Missouri Highway 25, about two miles north of Advance, and assisting pedestrian, David M. Merchant, 27, of Jackson. An accident occurred when motorist James G. Smith, 47, of Dexter struck the parked vehicle, causing the parked vehicle to hit Merchant. Merchant and Smith's passenger, Zenita D. Smith, 45, of Dexter sustained moderate injuries and were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.