Four die in weekend wrecks in state

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports four people died during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010. Troopers investigated 319 traffic crashes with 92 injuries and the four fatalities. In addition, troopers made 113 arrests for driving while intoxicated.

One of the four state's fatalaties was that of a former Dexter woman, 36-year-old Charlotte Glasener, who had resided in Desloge. According to the patrol, Glasener was traveling along Mo. Hwy. K west of Rt. D in St. Francois County at 6:20 p.m. Sunday when her vehicle traveled off the south side of the road and overturned. She was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Glasener was the daughter of Darrell Brown of Dexter and Lois Diebold of Dexter. A complete obituary appears on age five.

During the 2009 counting period, troopers investigated 234 traffic crashes, which included 89 injuries and 11 fatalities. [Note: There were 24 fatalities statewide over the 2009 New Year's counting period.] In addition, troopers made 131 driving while intoxicated arrests last year.

Of the four fatalities troopers investigated this year, two occurred in both the Troop A, Lee's Summit area, and the Troop C, Weldon Spring area.

No fatalities occurred on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, during the New Year's counting period, nor on Friday, New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2010.

One person died in a fatal traffic crash on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. David R. Bukaty, 24, of Butler died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving on the ice and snow covered roadway. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned.

It is unknown whether or not Bukaty was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Bates County on Rice Road, east of Wright Road. Bates County Coroner Gary Schowengerdt pronounced Bukaty dead at the scene.

Three people, including Charlette Glasener mentioned above, died in fatal traffic crashes on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010.

Larry E. Doyle, 51, of Hewitt, Texas, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving on the ice covered roadway. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, traveled down a steep embankment, overturned, and came to rest on its top. Doyle was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Bates County northbound on U.S. Highway 71 south of Miami Creek. Bates County Coroner Gary Schowengerdt pronounced Doyle dead at the scene. Rich Hill EMS and Butler Fire and EMS also responded to the scene.

Alan Montgomery, 42, of Imperial, died when the vehicle he was driving crested a hill while traveling too fast for conditions. Montgomery applied the brakes and the vehicle skidded through an intersection. The vehicle then left the roadway and entered a corn field, overturning several times. Montgomery was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Sandy Valley Acres Drive at Sandy Church Road. Big River Ambulance personnel pronounced Montgomery dead at the scene.