MoDOT worker injured removing tree from road Thursday

A Missouri Department of Transporation worker was injured in Cape Girardeau County on Thursday when he was struck by a vehicle while removing a fallen tree from Highway 72, about a mile east of Millersville.

Michael R. Schwendemann, 35, of Cape Girardeau was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center with moderate injuries after he was hit at about 5 p.m., according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol online crash report.

The driver, Nathaniel C. Bailey, 19, of Arcadia, Mo., was attempting to pass a MoDOT dump truck and a MoDOT pickup truck parked along the side of the road, when his vehicle struck a plow attached to the front of the dump truck, then hitting Schwendemann and the pickup.

Bailey sustained moderate injuries and was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center.

The MoDOT vehicles were displaying their yellow hazard lights, according to the patrol's report.

Schwendemann and Bailey were treated and released, hospital spokeswoman Emily Sikes said Friday afternoon.

Pertinent address:

Millersville, Mo