Three Richards residents killed in crash

Thursday, August 23, 2007
Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Jim Wilde investigates a tragic crash Wednesday afternoon that took the lives of three people. Four others suffered serious injuries and were transported to hospitals, including two children who were taken by helicopter to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

A wreck at an uncontrolled county intersection at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday. cost the lives of three Richards residents and put four other Richards residents in hospitals with serious injuries. A 2001 Dodge pickup driven by 28-year-old Douglas W. Harth was northbound on 200 Road when it struck a 1999 Ford van westbound on Katy Road, driven by 32- year-old Callie J. Dobbs.

Dobbs and two passengers in his vehicle died in the wreck. Cecil Dobbs, 8 months old, and Kristie D. Pearson, 20.

Harth was taken by private vehicle to Nevada Regional Medical Center then transferred to St. John's in Joplin. Three of the Dobbs children, two girls Leslie, 7; Shae, 12, and one boy, Tyler, 9, were flown to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

In a report, Corporal Jim Wilde said that the vision of both drivers was obscured by trees and bushes. Callie and Cecil Dobbs were pronounced dead at the scene by Vernon County Coroner David Ferry at 5:30 p.m. Pearson was pronounced dead at 5:41 p.m., by Dr. Phillip Barker at Nevada Regional Medical Center.

According to Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman, none of the victims were wearing seat belts except the infant, Cecil, who was in a car seat.

Peckman said that the Missouri State Highway Patrol accident reconstruction squad was on scene Wednesday evening.

"They spent quite a bit of time checking out the accident," Peckman said.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: