Category: kmiz-local-news

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash Saturday in Gasconade County near 2113 on Missouri Highway 19. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says the driver of a 2005 Big Dog Chopper motorcycle – a 51-year-old Rhineland man – was driving southbound at around 12:19 a.m. when he struck a deer and drove off the right side of the road, getting thrown off the motorcycle.

The motorcycle was totaled, and the man was driven to Mercy Washington Hospital. The rider was not wearing a helmet.

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Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Fire Protection District and Missouri State Highway Patrol told ABC 17 News Saturday they had already responded to multiple calls over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Boone County Fire crews responded to a structure fire late Friday night in the 300 block of North Williams Road. The fire was caused by fireworks that had been improperly disposed of, according to Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp.

Blomenkamp said the residents placed a box of used fireworks outside next to their home that later ignited and started a fire. No injuries were reported.

“People need to use caution,” Blomenkamp said. “Be careful what you do and watch out for where the fallout is, and then obviously dispose of them [fireworks] properly or leave them set overnight where they’re at on the ground. Leave them away from the house. Let them sit. Let them cool off. Pick them up tomorrow morning.”

He said BCFPD has not responded to any medical calls related to fireworks this holiday weekend.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Michael A. Turner is urging everyone to make smart choices both on the roads and on the water.

Since 6 p.m. Thursday, MSHP Troop F has reported 18 crashes. No boating incidents or drownings have been reported as of Saturday evening.

Troopers have also made 17 arrests for driving or boating while intoxicated during the Fourth of July weekend.

Sergeant Kyle Green said he hopes the numbers do not rise as the weekend comes to a close Sunday.

“We haven’t had any traffic fatalities either on the road or on the water, which is fantastic,” Green said. “And we hope it stays that way. It’s hard to predict, obviously, what will play out over the next two days as people enjoy the rest of their weekend and then start heading home.”

Officials remind people to never operate a vehicle or boat after consuming alcohol. They also warn that it is illegal to discharge fireworks from a boat. All fireworks should be lit safely from shore.

Green said all available MSHP troopers will be patrolling roads and waterways through the entire holiday weekend.

In 2024, 14 people were killed and more than 500 injured in over 1,300 Missouri crashes during the Fourth of July weekend.

State troopers also reported 10 boating crashes, which resulted in seven injuries but no fatalities.

Between Thursday night and Sunday night last year, troopers made 149 arrests for driving while intoxicated and 12 arrests for boating while intoxicated.

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Ryan Shiner

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The southbound lanes of Highway 63 temporarily closed on Friday after a vehicle caught fire in an area near Deer Park Road, south of Columbia.

There were no injuries in the crash, according to a text message from Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp.

A Boone County Joint Communications issued a notification at 3:09 p.m. that both southbound lanes were closed because of the fire. Lanes were back open by 3:27 p.m.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person had moderate injuries Friday after a tire struck the windshield of a vehicle in the eastbound lane of Instate 70 near mile marker 140 in Callaway County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says a tire came off an “unknown vehicle” and hit the windshield of a 2022 Buick Enclave.

MSHP’s Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – shared on its social media at 10:21 a.m. Friday that the interstate was blocked while troopers investigated a crash with an entrapment. Troop F wrote that the interstate was back open at 11:04 a.m.

The Buick was driven by a 53-year-old man from Florissant, Missouri. The driver had no reported injuries.

A 47-year-old woman – who was a passenger in the Buck – had moderate injuries and was brought to University Hospital by ambulance, the report says. Both people in the vehicle wore seatbelts, the report says. The Buick had extensive damage, according to the report.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sedalia man who was originally charged with murder in his child’s death has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Danial Fitzgerald, 26, pleaded guilty in Henry County on Wednesday to fist-degree involuntary manslaughter and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He’s currently being held at the Benton County Jail.

He was originally charged with second-degree murder and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The case was moved in 2024 from Benton to Henry County.

Court documents in previous reporting say a 9-month-old baby was found dead following a “non-injury vehicle crash” on Feb. 7, 2022. The child’s 16-year-old mother and Fitzgerald were at the scene. Troopers noticed the baby had various injuries.

Troopers wrote that Fitzgerald appeared to be more concerned about the state of his car than the child not breathing.

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Keriana Gamboa

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The annual Salute to America festival was held Friday around the Capitol in Jefferson City and included areas set up to help attendees beat the heat.

A cooling station and a reusable water bottle refill station were available, as was a Jefferson City bus with cool air and water.

Cole County Emergency Medical Services worked alongside Jefferson City police and fire departments during the event to respond quickly to anyone who may have become ill due to the extreme heat.

“As the sun’s out this time of year, you can’t stress enough to hydrate before you come out. Obviously, if you get too hot,  we’ve got a response vehicle set up that we can come grab you,  get you to the cooling center, get you cooled off, and if necessary,  treat you and get you to the hospital,” Cole County Medical Services Capt. Mike Shirts said.

Officials advised anyone who attended the event to come prepared for the high temperatures by staying hydrated, wearing light clothing and taking frequent breaks to cool down.

At least one person suffered a heat-related illness, which resulted in an EMS response. EMS officials at the scene told ABC 17 News that they were expecting more throughout the rest of the day.

Attendees told ABC 17 News they used a variety of methods to stay cool during the Independence Day festivities.

“Yeah, using hats, anything.  I’ve got light clothing on to stay cool. There’s a nice breeze here. It’s coming through. And so, yeah, we’re. We’re doing great,” attendee Ted Web said.

Festivities kicked off at 2 p.m., with the parade beginning two hours later. Several streets were closed as of Thursday, including roads surrounding the Capitol grounds, the 200 block of Broadway and the 100 blocks of East High Street.

Those streets will back open again by 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly tried to set a house on fire in June.

Columbia police said in a news release that Brandon Butchkoski, 47, was arrested in connection with a fire on June 29.

Police said officers responded to the 1500 block of Paris Road to assist firefighters. Investigators learned Butchkoski allegedly tried to set a single-story house on fire. Minor property damage was reported.

Online jail records state Butchkoski was booked into the Boone County Jail around 4:49 a.m. on Friday for one count of first-degree arson and possession of controlled substance.

Formal charges have not been filed as of Friday morning. Missouri courts were closed Friday for Independence Day.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The city of Columbia is all hands of deck for its Fourth of July festivities. The city’s multi-page plan includes protocols for situations like medical emergencies, fire and public disturbances.

In the event of a major emergency Columbia Fire Department and the Columbia Police Department will take control and swiftly direct people out of the impacted area. CFD will take the lease on any major medical emergencies, but first aid kits will also be on site at the information tent for basic first aid.

In the event of a fire, staff will clear people away from the flames and alert first responders. If the event is cancelled due to fire, volunteers will be tasked with telling attendees and directing them towards a safe eit.

Staff and volunteers will assist with crowd control in the park. Volunteers working in the parking lots of the road closures will be wearing safety vests.

CPD will also be managing the street closures on Old Highway 63 and East Walnut street. Other closures include the Hinkson Creek Trail at 8:30 Friday night.

Citadel Security also monitored the firework zone overnight from 12 p.m. July 3 to 6 a.m.July 4 to make sure the fireworks are as safe and secure as possible.

The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Stephens Lake Park. The firework show will finish the night off starting at 9:15 p.m. 597 firework shells will be used during the firework show with 670 shots expected from the shells.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

There were no injuries reported after first responders had a street blocked off in Fulton on Thursday for a house fire.

Fulton fire crews responded to the scene of a house engulfed in flames in the 500 block of West 7th Street just after 7:30 p.m. According to a press release, crews were able to get the fire under control at 8:13 p.m.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, according to the release. More than one Fulton Fire Department truck was on the scene around 9:30 p.m.

Fire officials said in the release that firefighters found a home fully involved and a neighboring home starting to catch fire.

Neighbors told an ABC 17 News reporter that they did not know of anyone living in the building where the fire occurred for some time.

A neighbor described damage occurring to her home that was nearby.

“I  just saw the smoke, so I run out to try to get my cat. But she [was] scared. And then I was looking. I have a flower bed right beside the house back there. And it was on fire before the firemen even got here,” neighbor Suzie Garriott said. “But they did put it out.”

Fulton police and the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office helped with traffic control.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

An 84-year-old woman died from injuries she suffered in a two-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Highway 65 in Saline County at the Business 65 junction, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says that a 2020 Dodge Caravan – driven by the 84-year-old Slater woman – was heading southbound on Business 65 and a 2015 Kenworth tractor-trailer was heading northbound. The Kenworth was driven by a 32-year-old New Franklin man, the report says.

The Dodge went into the path of the Kenworth, causing the Kenworth to hit the driver’s side of the Dodge, the report says.

The Dodge went off the east side of the road and stopped in the median, the report says. The report says The Kenworth went off the west side of the road across the southbound lanes, the report says.

The 84-year-old woman – along with an 85-year-old male passenger – were flown to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the report says. The man, also from Slater, had moderate injuries, according to the report.

The driver of the Kenworth had no reported injuries. The Dodge was totaled, while the Kenworth had moderate damage. Everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt, the report says.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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