Investigation of fatal crash still ongoing, police say

CAUSE UNCLEAR

By Andrea L. Buchanan ~ Southeast Missourian

JACKSON, Mo. -- A day after she was buried, Jackson police were still investigating a four-car crash on Sunday that killed an 8-year-old Cape Girardeau girl.

Kaelyn McGill died Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center from injuries she received in a head-on collision on East Jackson Boulevard near Center Junction.

Citing an active investigation in the case, police have not issued official reports, but did release the names of the other individuals involved in the crash, which occurred about 1:30 p.m..

An eastbound car driven by Jennifer Golden, 19, of Cape Girardeau swerved into the westbound lane, causing a chain reaction that involved three other cars heading in the opposite direction.

Police said they are still trying to determine what happened before Golden's car swerved.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is aiding by creating a reconstruction diagram of the accident.

The first car struck was a vehicle driven by James McGill. Passengers in the car were his wife, Sheila McGill, and their daughters, Kaelyn and 4-year-old Taylor.

Golden had no passengers in her car. She suffered minor injuries in the accident.

All the McGills except Kaelyn were treated and released from the hospital.

The second car hit was driven by Joseph H. Ledgerwood, 57, of Jackson. His passenger was his wife, Deborah. They also suffered injuries in the accident but were not admitted to the hospital, police said.

Following Ledgerwood's vehicle was Marcus E. Farrow, 31, of Cape Girardeau. There were no passengers in his vehicle.

Kaelyn McGill was a student at Alma Schrader Elementary School.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160