Region digest 5a 9/18

Matthews teen-ager dies in one-vehicle crash

MINER, Mo. -- A Matthews, Mo., teen-ager was killed in a one-vehicle accident Sunday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that 16-year-old Steven Brashear was traveling on New Madrid County Route AA, seven miles south of Miner at 9:42 p.m. when the northbound vehicle he was driving ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole.

Brashear died from his injuries.

Also injured was a passenger, Billy Gilliland, 16, of Sikeston, Mo., who was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Man arrested for defrauding church

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety arrested a man Sunday after he defrauded a local church.

The man went to a local church and asked for help buying baby formula for his sick child. On his request, the church purchased six cans for him, but the man was able to get a hold of the receipt and returned the cans to the store to get the money back.

The name of the man has not been released pending the filing of formal charges by the Scott County prosecutor. Sikeston police are warning area churches and businesses to be aware of this type of fraudulent activity.

-- From Southeast Missouri News Service