Two killed in accidents near Puxico, Poplar Bluff

PUXICO, Mo. -- Two people died in separate accidents in the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E area on Tuesday.

At 12:40 p.m., the highway patrol was summoned to a wreck on Highway 51, five miles north of Puxico. According to the patrol, 53-year-old Maryann C. Cookson, of Puxico, was northbound when she apparently overcorrected, traveled off the right side of the road and overturned several times. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Aaron Mathis.

The patrol reported that Cookson was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck.

At 9:35 Tuesday night, a 30-year-old Poplar Bluff man was killed while riding a bicycle on Route M, two miles south of Poplar Bluff.

Joseph W. Wright was westbound on Route M when he was struck from behind by a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Mitchell D. McDaniel, 28, also of Poplar Bluff. Wright was transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Less than an hour following the wreck, the patrol charged McDaniel with involuntary manslaughter. He was taken to the Butler County Jail on a 24-hour hold.

The fatalities mark the 37th and 38th traffic-related deaths in Troop E for the 2012 year.

Pertinent address:

Highway 51, Puxico, MO

Route M, Poplar Bluff, MO