Several injured in Saturday accidents

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An Arkansas man was killed and several other people injured in a multivehicle accident Saturday afternoon north of Poplar Bluff.

David Pierce, 46, of McDougal, Ark., was thrown from the motorcycle he was driving just after 3 p.m. Saturday on Route T in Butler County. He was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where he later died.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident happened when Pierce's motorcycle struck the back of another motorcycle driven by John Mansker, 43, of Corning, Ark., that was already stopped.

Mansker's motorcycle then struck a truck driven by Carroll Beaird, 56, of Sikeston, Mo. Pierce was thrown from his motorcycle into the path of an oncoming truck driven by Terry Porch, 23, of Poplar Bluff. Pierce had been wearing a safety belt.

Five other people were injured in a separate accident on Route T late Saturday evening. The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. 60 just after 11 p.m.

According to the patrol, George Sparkman, 19, of Poplar Bluff was driving eastbound when he pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by Steven Armiger, 24, of Poplar Bluff.

Armiger were driving southbound. He and two passengers, Natalie Ritter, 23, and Jamie Elders, 24, both of Dexter, Mo., suffered moderate injuries.

Sparkman suffered minor injuries. A passenger in his vehicle, Shane Bess, 18, of Republic, Mo., also suffered minor injuries.

All were treated at Three Rivers North Campus in Poplar Bluff.