Car hits front end loader, driver killed

An area man was killed after a crash in Washington County Friday night.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Paul J. Sampson, 81, of Blackwell, was pronounced dead after being transported by ambulance to Washington County Memorial Hospital following a vehicle accident just before 8 p.m. on Friday.

Reports state he was driving a 2000 Ford Taurus south on Highway 21 when it collided with the side of a 1996 Takeuchi model front end loader, operated by Ricky S. Valle, 68 of Cadet. The crash occurred when the loader was crossing Highway 21 from the eastbound lane of Sampson Lane in Washington County.

Valle was taken by air ambulance to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries. 

One of Missouri State Highway Patrol’s major crash investigation units handled the accident scene. Neither of the victims were wearing seat belts; however, the heavy equipment operator was exempt from this requirement by law.

Two women were seriously injured in a crash Sunday morning on Highway 47 outside Bonne Terre.

According to the patrol report, Kimberly P. Humphrey, 23 of Desloge, and her passenger Katye E. Greer, 24, of Potosi, were injured when the 2010 Dodge Caliber driven by Humphrey went off of Highway 47 and struck a tree Sunday morning just south of Old Cadet Road.

Greer received serious injuries. She was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital-Jefferson for treatment.

The driver, Humphrey, was ejected from the vehicle and received moderate injuries and was transported to Mineral Area Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Missouri State Highway Patrol reports indicate the accident occurred when Humphrey was going south on 47, went off the road, and subsequently over-corrected the car causing it to hit a tree at about 10 a.m.

Neither were wearing a seat belt at the time.