Two drivers killed in holiday car accidents

A Missouri woman and an Arkansas man died in separate automobile accidents on Missouri roads over the Christmas holiday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

Johnny Varner, 51, of Piggott, Ark., was killed in the Bootheel on Tuesday in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 164 in Dunklin County. The patrol said the accident happened about 6:30 p.m., when the car Varner was in rear-ended a truck that was pulling a trailer with no rear lighting.

Varner was the first reported fatality during the patrol's Christmas counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Tuesday and ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Last year, 10 people were killed during the period.

Catherine N. Stanek, 80, of Silex, Mo., lost control of her car Wednesday morning on a snow-covered Lincoln County road and slid head-on into a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, the patrol said.

Monday's snow and ice storm resulted in several slide offs and serious accidents across the southern half of the state. Parts of the Ozarks region received as much as 14 inches of snow.

But during the holiday, icy dangers were replaced in Southeast Missouri by slightly warmer temperatures on Tuesday and sunshine on Wednesday, making for safer driving for travelers. The patrol and police in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City reported no serious injury or fatal accidents taking place Christmas Day.