Region briefs 8/13/04

Sikeston teens injured in one car accident

SIKESTON, Mo. -- At 11:15 a.m. Wednesday on County Road 472, 2.5 miles north of Miner, two Sikeston residents were injured in a single car accident when the driver of a 2003 Ford swerved to avoid hitting an animal, ran off the road and struck a pole. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, the driver, Danielle Freeman, 16, of Sikeston was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. A passenger, Haley Davis, 16, was taken to the Missouri Delta Medical Center with serious injuries. Freeman was issued tickets for failure to drive on the right half of the roadway resulting in an accident and failure to wear a seat belt.

Milwaukee residents injured in I-57 wreck

SIKESTON, Mo. -- At 4:45 a.m. Thursday, three people from Milwaukee were taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center after the 2003 Honda Civic they were in ran off the right side of Interstate 57 at the one mile marker into the median and struck a bridge support head-on. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, injured were the driver, Lena McBride, 47, Alisha McBride, 21, and Nyia Madison, 4 months old, all of Milwaukee. All sustained moderate injures.

Delta woman injured in tractor-trailer, car crash

DELTA, Mo. -- A Delta woman sustained moderate injuries at 1:35 p.m. Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 25 three miles north of Delta. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, the accident occurred when a southbound 2002 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by David Davis, 39, of South Greenfield, attempted to pass a southbound 1978 Chevrolet driven by Brenda Carnell, 51, of Delta. Carnell was attempting to make a left turn when the truck started to pass her vehicle and hit it. Carnell was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau for treatment of moderate injuries.

Shoplifting arrest nets $8,000 in stolen goods

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Police officers found more than $8,000 in stolen merchandise in a bleeding shoplifter's car Wednesday. Freddie Owen Melton, 33, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested on suspicion of stealing, possession of stolen property, trespassing and attempted escape after he tried to walk out of the police station three times. Police were initially dispatched at 9:04 a.m. to Mills Iron Supply to investigate a shoplifter who was bleeding substantially from a left hand laceration and suspected of stealing a hammer, according to reports. A new tape measure with a fresh Mills Iron Supply price tag was found in Melton's pocket, as well as a new hammer with blood on it. While doing an inventory of items in Melton's car, officers found several watches stolen from J.C. Penney's, electronics equipment, a DVD player, several video cameras, clothing, DVDs and hats.

Indicted company does $300 million of state work

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A construction company indicted on charges of rigging highway project bids was awarded more than $300 million worth of work with the state Department of Transportation in the past few years, much of it still underway. And the state transportation commission was to consider today whether to award the company even more work. APAC-Missouri Inc. and vice president Donald G. Mantle were indicted Wednesday on a federal charge of conspiracy in restraint of trade.

-- From staff, wire reports