Motorcyclist may lose foot after Poplar Bluff accident

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Authorities say a motorcyclist may lose his foot after it apparently became stuck in a car bumper during an accident Monday afternoon.

Sean Michael Willis, 27, of Poplar Bluff is being treated at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he was flown after a crash at 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of Fifth and Cherry streets.

Kelly L. Mullins, 50, of the 200 block of County Road 306, told Poplar Bluff Police Sgt. Chuck Harris she was stopped in her 2003 Buick Century at the stop sign at Cherry and Fifth streets, according to Harris' accident report.

Mullins, Harris said, reported seeing two motorcycles going south on Fifth Street.

"(Mullins) stated that she proceeded to turn southbound on Fifth and collided" with Willis' northbound 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle, Harris said.

A witness, Harris said, reported Willis waved at passing southbound motorcycles and put his hand back on the handle bar.

When Mullins attempted to go through the intersection, the witness said, her car allegedly struck Willis' motorcycle

Harris said the witness reported Mullins' car struck the side of the motorcycle and then "backed up a small distance, which pulled" the motorcycle.

The motorcycle, according to the witness, fell over, tearing off the car's bumper.

Officers and emergency medical services personnel at the scene believe Willis' right foot and leg became entangled in the car's bumper. Butler County EMS personnel, Harris said, found Willis' foot and leg to be severely injured, and told officers it was possible he could lose his foot.

"Several folks jumped in and helped" at the scene, Harris said. "It was amazing the people coming together to get him flown out."

Poplar Bluff firefighters had set up a landing zone for the helicopter on a Black River Coliseum parking lot. Willis later was flown to St. Louis.