TWO FROM AREA DIE IN ACCIDENTS

Two people from Southeast Missouri died from injuries received in separate accidents Saturday along Missouri highways.

Michelle Coffer, 30, of Cape Girardeau died in an early morning accident Saturday in St. Louis County.

Robert Shouse, 58, of Williamsville died at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff following an accident in Butler County. the accident happened at 1:45 p.m., just north of Poplar Bluff on U.S. 67.

Coffer and two other passengers were killed after being thrown from the vehicle, which had been traveling east on Dorsett Road when the driver lost control and ran off the road. The vehicle struck a utility pole and overturned, throwing Coffer and two other passengers, Kevin Fletcher, 38, of Hazelwood and Melissa Ketchum, 20, of St. Charles.

The driver of the car was Andrew Timko, 28, of St. Louis. He was seriously injured. Also seriously injured was Lindsey Andreesen, 22, of St. Louis.

Shouse was killed after being struck by a southbound vehicle that pulled into his lane on the highway.

The second vehicle was driven by Lauren Presler, 16, of Poplar Bluff. A passenger in Presler's car, Ashley Morse, 15, also of Poplar Bluff was injured. Both were treated at Lucy Lee Hospital.