Weather Canceled School, Caused Accidents

This Ste. Genevieve Fire Department fire rescue truck had to make its way through persistent snowfall Friday night, on its way to a weather-related traffic accident.

About four inches of snow fell in most of Ste. Genevieve County last weekend, and while other areas fared far worse, weather conditions canceled school here on both Friday and Monday, and road conditions caused a flurry of minor accidents, two reported by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A Cape Girardeau woman was hurt in an accident at 8:35 a.m. January 30 on south Interstate 55, nine-tenths of a mile south of Route Y.

According to the patrol report, a sport-utility vehicle driven by Amber N. Walker, 22, was southbound on I-55 when she lost control of her vehicle due to road conditions.

The SUV went off the left side of the road into the median, struck a guardrail and overturned, landing in the northbound lanes of I-55.

Walker had minor injuries and was taken to Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital by Ste. Genevieve County ambulance. The patrol report said Walker was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Two Ste. Genevieve residents were hurt in an accident at 9 p.m. January 29 on Highway 61 near Missouri Avenue.

The patrol report said a pickup truck driven by Jackie L. Nickleson, 57, was southbound on Highway 61. Nickleson lost control on the snow-covered road, and the vehicle went off the left side of the roadway and overturned.

Nickelson and a passenger, Devera A. Nickelson, 56, had minor injuries and were taken to Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital by Ste. Genevieve County ambulance.

According to the patrol report, Jackie and Devera Nickelson were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.