Icy roads, hazardous conditions lead to accidents, one deadly

Emergency crews responded Monday to dozens of accidents across Southeast Missouri including one that claimed the life of a Scott City man who was ejected from his car as it slid off Interstate 55 in New Madrid County.

Joshua K. Holshouser, 32, was killed shortly after noon when the northbound 2004 GMC pickup truck in which he was a passenger went off the right side of the road about four miles north of New Madrid, Mo.

According to the accident report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jacob A. Schubert, 29, of Jackson was driving when the truck left the road and overturned. Another passenger in the pickup, Kendal E. Mungle, 63, of Cape Girardeau was seriously injured in the wreck.

Schubert was not injured.

Both Holshouser and Mungle were taken by ambulance to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo., where Holshouser was pronounced dead by Dr. Brad Angelof.

The accident was one of dozens caused by the accumulating ice that was coating the region and was expected to continue building through the night Monday.

Across the area covered by Highway Patrol Troop E, based in Poplar Bluff, 35 to 40 collisions were reported, not including motorists who slid off the roads and required wreckers, said Sgt. Dale Moreland.

In an accident on Highway 74 near Gordonville, Tammy L. Burks, 44, of Oran, Mo., suffered moderate injuries when the westbound 2005 Ford in which she was a passenger was struck head-on by a 2002 Honda driven by Michael J. Gill, 53, of Cape Girardeau. Gill lost control of his Honda and struck a 2007 Kia driven by Ronnie V. Fauceda, 42, of Oran, Mo., before colliding with the Ford, which was driven by Toni M. Elfrink, 41, of Oran. Gill, Fauceda and Elfrink all suffered minor injuries, Moreland said.

Within Cape Girardeau city limits, police responded to more than 20 accidents with another half-dozen motorists requiring assistance getting their cars back onto the road, police spokesman Sgt. Barry Hovis said.

There was one injury accident in Cape Girardeau, near Themis Street and Woodbine Place, but no further details were available at press time.

The Jackson Police Department reported three accidents and five cars that had run off the road, police Capt. Robert Hull said.

Scott County and Cape Girardeau County sheriffs deputies also reported accidents but no injuries.

Southeast Missourian staff writer Bridget DiCosmo contributed to this report.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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