ROLLA, MO (PHELPS COUNTY) – A woman was killed, three people were seriously injured, and a 19-year-old was hurt in a three-car collision near Rolla yesterday afternoon.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident happened at 4 p.m. on Highway 63, near the Beaver Creek Conservation Area a few miles south of Rolla.
The crash occurred when the driver of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, 55-year-old St. Louis man Thomas A. Schmuelling, went across the center line of the highway, struck the side of a 2017 Ford Focus, then collided head-first with a 2016 Kia Sorrento.
A passenger in the Silverado, 54-year-old St. Louis woman Melissa M. Schmuelling, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:09 p.m.
Schmuelling and the 40-year-old driver of the Sorrento, St. James woman Dawn M. Kurtti, were flown to the hospital in Columbia for the treatment of severe injuries.
The driver of the Focus, 48-year-old Rolla woman Shauna S. Diedrich, was flown to the hospital in Springfield with severe wounds.
A 19-year-old passenger in the Focus, St. Louis resident Morgan L. Diedrich, was taken to a local hospital in Rolla with minor injuries.
All victims of the collision were reportedly wearing their seatbelts.
The Kia and Silverado were totaled in the crash and the Focus suffered extensive damage.
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 crash, 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 against dangerous driving 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.
