TRANSPORTATION: SLICK ROADS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC PROVE DEADLY

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- High traffic volume and afternoon rains created several accidents Friday, one resulting in the death of a 7-year-old boy.

About 3:30 p.m. the Eakens family of Risco, Mo., was driving north on Interstate 55 near the Scott City, Mo., interchange. The 1995 Chevrolet driven by 26-year-old Robert Eakens crossed into the grassy median, slid sideways into the southbound lanes and was struck in the left side by a vehicle driven by Jami Walker of Charleston, Mo.

Robert Eakens, 25-year-old Billie Eakens and 4-year-old Shawn Eakens were taken to St. Francis Medical Center with moderate injuries. Seven-year-old Zack Eakens was also taken by ambulance, but died of injuries sustained in the wreck.

The driver and three passengers in the second car had minor injuries.

The initial accident led to another four-car wreck at the 90 mile marker in the south lanes of Interstate 55, Cape Girardeau police reported. One person from the second accident was transported to a hospital.

When rain moved into the area after 3 p.m., accidents began to grow, patrolman Don Hellwege said.

"With slick roads and black top, drivers probably need to take sliding more into consideration," Hellwege said.

Increased driving from holiday shoppers was not a factor while roads were dry, he said.

With rain at least through Saturday and higher than normal traffic from shoppers and holiday travelers, Hellwedge said drivers should give themselves extra time to get where they're going, and slow down.

"If I were driving in a 30 mile-per-hour speed limit zone, I'd slow it to 25," he said.

Elsewhere on Missouri roads, at least three more people died this holiday weekend.

Donald Sullenger, 19, died Friday morning after his car crossed the center line of U.S. 136 near Albany and struck another car, the highway patrol said.

The driver of the other car had minor injuries.

Lukas McDowell, 18, of Camdenton died Friday morning after his car left the highway on a Dallas County road near Buffalo.

On Thursday Lonni Prater, 18, of Lebanon, died at a hospital after a late-morning accident on U.S. 65 north of Urbana.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.