WEEKEND ACCIDENT KILLS DE SOTO MAN

An accident Saturday morning south of Center Junction claimed the life of a DeSoto, Mo., man and ejected the driver of another vehicle involved.

Michael Andrew Clinton, 22, of DeSoto was fatally injured in the accident and died later at St. Francis Medical Center from massive head injuries.

Vera K. Rieck, 44, of Louisiana, Mo., was seriously injured when she was thrown from her vehicle in the accident. She also was taken to St. Francis Medical Center.

The accident happened at 11:46 a.m. on Interstate 55 south of the Cape Girardeau city limits near the U.S. 61 and Route 34 intersection.

Clinton and Rieck were both driving south on the interstate when Clinton's car ran off the road and overcorrected, striking Rieck's sport utility vehicle.

Both vehicles then went out of control and overturned. Rieck was ejected from her vehicle. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt, according to a report by Cape Girardeau Police.

Injured passengers were Cara Elizabeth Hermann, 19, of DeSoto. She was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries and then released.

None of the passengers in Rieck's vehicle, children ages 4, 5 and 13, were wearing seat belts.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.