Police report: Driver of truck failed to yield in scooter crash that injured SEMO student

A Morley, Mo., man has been cited for failing to yield in the truck-versus-scooter crash Sept. 9 that has kept a Southeast Missouri State University student in critical condition since the day it happened.

On top of that came the news late Wednesday that Meg Herndon, the 21-year-old crash victim from Fenton, Mo., had suffered injuries that were just "too devastating for any recovery." The family announced that it would today let her "help decide her destiny."

"We're just taking it one day at a time and praying for a miracle," said Amanda Carter, Herndon's cousin. "Whatever happens [today], it will be very emotional for our family."

But first came the news that suggests Herndon was not at fault in the crash earlier this month that has left her in a coma with a severe brain injury as well as several broken bones.

Steven A. Minner, 19, was mailed a citation Friday that alleges he failed to yield to Herndon and the infraction of failure to wear a seat belt in the collision. According to a Cape Girardeau Police Department crash report, Minner did not yield when making a left turn off Sprigg Street onto Normal Avenue at the edge of Southeast campus. Minner's black Ford F-250 hit Herndon's scooter, which was traveling south on Sprigg and had the right of way. The police accident report said Herndon was about three-quarters of the way through the intersection with Normal Avenue when the crash happened.

Herndon, a nursing student at Southeast, was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after the crash. In her nearly two weeks at the hospital, Herndon's condition has not improved, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday afternoon.

Still, friends of Herndon's, many who are her teammates on the soccer team, said they were relieved to learn Wednesday that she was not to blame for the wreck.

"It gives me some comfort to know it wasn't her fault," said Taylor Byrd, Herndon's roommate. "But I know it was just an accident and we all make mistakes."

Minner, a recent graduate of Scott County Central who is attending Shawnee Community College, is being charged at the state level and not municipally, according to assistant prosecutor Jack Koester. While the proceedings could have taken place in either court, Koester said the extent of Herndon's injuries are likely the reason they were elevated.

Minner, who did not return several phone calls from the Southeast Missourian on Wednesday, did let his feelings be known in a recent Facebook post: "Worst week of my life. I just want to get out of here."

Minner has a court appearance scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 15 before Judge Gary Kamp in Jackson. Each charge carries a possible punishment of up to $200.

The proverbial good may come from the bad situation. Herndon's accident may help push along some safety reforms on a campus that has 340 registered mo-peds, commonly called scooters.

Doug Richards, director of the University Police Department, said the university is altering parking to help improve safety conditions for scooter riders, who are not required to wear helmets under Missouri law. Richards is also working with Cape Girardeau city government officials to draft an ordinance that would make wearing a helmet while riding a scooter a legal requirement. But Richards would not describe the potential changes as being brought about solely because of Herndon's wreck.

"The tragedy of the accident only shows how important these things are," Richards said.

Members of the soccer team at Southeast have rallied around their ailing teammate. Bracelets bearing the inscription "PRAY4MEG" were made that have seen sales top 2,000 in just a few days. All of the money is being earmarked to help pay for Herndon's mounting medical bills.

Byrd, for example, was one of her closest friends in Cape Girardeau. On Wednesday, Byrd wept as she talked about the conversation they had just before Herndon left for her job at a hospital. The two friends had been lounging around their house watching television.

"The last thing I remember her saying is that she wished every day could be like that day," Byrd said Wednesday afternoon. "Then she hopped on her scooter and drove off. Right now, we're just hoping for a miracle."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Sprigg Street and Normal Avenue, Cape Girardeau, MO