Region digest 10/26/04

Blast to remove bridge pier planned today

Demolition work on the Old Mississippi River continues today with a small, underwater blast to remove a concrete pier from the river. The time of the blast has not been determined, said Missouri Department of Transportation construction inspector Rick Lamb. But because it is a small explosion underwater, the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge will not be closed. However, the bridge will be close down momentarily at noon Friday to remove the final pier. Because this will be an above the surface blast, the Emerson Bridge will be closed for about five minutes.

Chaffee man falls asleep, runs off Interstate 55

A Chaffee, Mo., man sustained moderate injuries after he fell asleep at the wheel at 8:40 a.m. Monday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. John McMullin, 48, was northbound on Interstate 55 at the 162 mile marker, according to the patrol. He fell asleep and his tractor-trailer veered off the right side of the road and overturned. McMullin was taken to Jefferson Memorial Hospital by Ste. Genevieve, Mo., ambulance.

Accident victim dies of injuries in Perry County

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A Perryville man reported injured last week in an accident on Route B two-tenths of a mile south of Perry County Road 630 has died from his injuries. Terry Finger, 46, died at 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Perry County Hospital. He was injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday when his car was hit head-on by another vehicle.

Perryville man run over in parking lot

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A Perryville man sustained moderate injuries Sunday night when a car ran over him. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kerek Pinsanor, 38, was lying underneath a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck parked in the Shaker Town Hall parking lot. The owner of the car, Aladdin Garris, 32, of Perryville struck Pinsanor as he was attempting to leave the parking lot, the patrol said. Pinsanor was taken to Perry County Memorial Hospital.

-- From staff reports