Weekend car accident claims life of Puxico man

PUXICO, Mo. -- A Puxico man who was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed on Highway 51 Friday night was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Morgan Sifford.

Dead is 54-year-old Tommie J. Bates. Sustaining moderate injuries was the vehicle's driver, 22-year-old Nickolas J. Jackson of Zalma, Mo. He was transported by ambulance to a Cape Girardeau hospital.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred after Jackson lost control of his vehicle as he was southbound on Highway 51 about one mile north of Puxico around 9:15 p.m. Friday. He reportedly ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. Neither of the two were wearing safety devices, the patrol reported.

Debris from the crash struck two vehicles traveling Highway 51 at the time of the wreck. Injury to occupants of those vehicles was not reported.

Bates' death is the 22nd fatality for Troop E in 2009.