Gerald man killed in late-night collision in Franklin County

LYON, MO (FRANKLIN COUNTY) – A man from Gerald was killed in a single-vehicle accident last night in Franklin County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at the intersection of Route YY and Highway 185 at 11:13 p.m. when a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, allegedly traveling too fast for road conditions, went off the right side of the highway.

The driver, 36-year-old Kurtis J. Birke, overcorrected the vehicle, sending it then off the left side of the road. The vehicle rolled over, killing Birke at the scene.

He was pronounced dead by emergency personnel at 11:45 p.m.

Birke was reportedly not wearing his seatbelt when the accident occurred.

No other injuries were reported in the collision.

This article is one in a series presented by OnderLaw to inform our neighbors about car accidents and traffic news across our city. It should not be interpreted as legal advice. However, if you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, we would like to discuss your case in detail. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, your lost income, and other expenses. More importantly, the only way to fight for better road conditions or fix the root cause of many accidents is to enlist the help of an experienced attorney that has the possibility to effect change and can prevent this from happening to another family. Contact us today to speak to one of our compassionate St. Louis car accident attorneys.