MALDEN MAN DIES IN CRASH

BLOOMFIELD -- A Christmas Eve automobile accident claimed the life of a Dunklin County man and sent two Stoddard County residents to the hospital.

Ronald Harvey, 53, of Malden was killed Wednesday in the accident on Highway 25 in Bloomfield. Injured in the accident were August and Mary Thorn of Bloomfield.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Harvey was traveling southbound on Highway 25 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck the vehicle driven by August Thorn head-on. Harvey was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Thorns were transported to Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. August Thorn received serious injuries and was in the intensive care unit, a hospital spokesman said. Mary Thorn suffered moderate injuries.

Although he was killed on Christmas Eve, Harvey will not be counted as a holiday fatality, the patrol stated. The counting period for holiday fatalities did not begin until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

The accident in Bloomfield occurred at 5:16 p.m., a patrol spokesman said.