Area wrecks claim two lives
October 13, 2021
Monett tow driver dies in crash
Ezra DeVore
According to a Missouri Highway Patrol report, at 5:51 p.m. on October 7, Brandon Wellbaum (48), of Monett, was driving an eastbound 2000 GMC C6500 Tow Truck hauling a 2003 Honda Element, when the vehicle travelled off of the right side of Route C and overturned approximately five miles east of Goodman in McDonald County. The vehicle was totaled.
Wellbaum was pronounced deceased on the scene by McDonald County Deputy Coroner Ashley Howard at 7 p.m.
Wellbaum was wearing a safety device.
His body was transported to the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.
The accident was Troop D’s 102nd fatality for 2021.
Barry County deputy involved in crash
Ezra DeVore
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, an accident three miles west of Jenkins on Highway 248, at 10:45 p.m., resulted in extensive damage to two vehicles and minor injuries to the drivers.
The accident occurred when a southbound 2019 Ford Explorer driven by Thaddaeus E. Harris (24), of Cassville, pulled into the path of an eastbound 2019 Ford Fiesta driven by Mark A. Goade (56), also of Cassville. The Fiesta then struck the Explorer.
Harris is a deputy with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office and was driving his patrol vehicle when the accident occurred, Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd said.
Both vehicles were insured and both drivers were wearing safety devices.
Goade was transported by private vehicle to Mercy Hospital in Cassville.
Cassville man flees scene of crash
According to a Missouri Highway Patrol report, at 7:59 p.m. on October 10, Evan Kessinger (21), of Cassville, was driving a northbound 1999 Freightliner Tractor Trailer on US 60, 2 miles west of Aurora, when he pulled into the path of Marios Ziogas’s westbound 2004 Ford F150. Ziogas struck the towed unit of Kessinger’s vehicle. The Ford was totalled. The Freightliner suffered minor damage.
Kessinger fled the scene, but was later located
Ziogas (65), of Billings, was flown to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:33 a.m. by Dr. Dominguez at Cox South.
Ziogas was wearing a safety device. It is unknown whether Kessinger had been wearing one.
This is Troop D’s 103rd fatality for 2021.
Monett tow driver dies in crash
Ezra DeVore
According to a Missouri Highway Patrol report, at 5:51 p.m. on October 7, Brandon Wellbaum (48), of Monett, was driving an eastbound 2000 GMC C6500 Tow Truck hauling a 2003 Honda Element, when the vehicle travelled off of the right side of Route C and overturned approximately five miles east of Goodman in McDonald County. The vehicle was totaled.
Wellbaum was pronounced deceased on the scene by McDonald County Deputy Coroner Ashley Howard at 7 p.m.
Wellbaum was wearing a safety device.
His body was transported to the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.
The accident was Troop D’s 102nd fatality for 2021.
Barry County deputy involved in crash
Ezra DeVore
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, an accident three miles west of Jenkins on Highway 248, at 10:45 p.m., resulted in extensive damage to two vehicles and minor injuries to the drivers.
The accident occurred when a southbound 2019 Ford Explorer driven by Thaddaeus E. Harris (24), of Cassville, pulled into the path of an eastbound 2019 Ford Fiesta driven by Mark A. Goade (56), also of Cassville. The Fiesta then struck the Explorer.
Harris is a deputy with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office and was driving his patrol vehicle when the accident occurred, Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd said.
Both vehicles were insured and both drivers were wearing safety devices.
Goade was transported by private vehicle to Mercy Hospital in Cassville.
Cassville man flees scene of crash
According to a Missouri Highway Patrol report, at 7:59 p.m. on October 10, Evan Kessinger (21), of Cassville, was driving a northbound 1999 Freightliner Tractor Trailer on US 60, 2 miles west of Aurora, when he pulled into the path of Marios Ziogas’s westbound 2004 Ford F150. Ziogas struck the towed unit of Kessinger’s vehicle. The Ford was totalled. The Freightliner suffered minor damage.
Kessinger fled the scene, but was later located
Ziogas (65), of Billings, was flown to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:33 a.m. by Dr. Dominguez at Cox South.
Ziogas was wearing a safety device. It is unknown whether Kessinger had been wearing one.
This is Troop D’s 103rd fatality for 2021.