Southeast Missouri man killed when hit by truck

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A pickup truck driver said he saw what he initially thought was a pile of clothes on a road in Carter County at 4:29 a.m. Friday. The pile of clothes was actually a person, who was killed when the truck ran over him.

Bearle H. Deal, 58, of Van Buren, who was pulling a trailer, swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting a pedestrian laying on the road, but the trailer wheels ran over the young man, according to Carter County Coroner Dennis McSpadden.

Derek S. Watts, 18, of Ellington, Mo., was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

An investigation is being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Carter County Sheriff's Department and the coroner's office.

The accident occurred in the eastbound lane as Deal was driving his 1988 Chevrolet S10 around a curve on Route U eight miles east of Van Buren.

An autopsy was conducted Friday by Dr. Russell Deidiker, a Farmington, Mo., pathologist.

"Death was caused by an open skull fracture," McSpadden said. "We are waiting for the police and toxicology reports before determining the manner of death."

McSpadden expects it will be four to six weeks before he receives the toxicology report.

Watts' death is the 25th this year in Highway Patrol Troop G. This is a decrease of four from the same period last year.