Three vehicles were involved in an accident between Tarkio and Fairfax on Hwy. 59 Thursday, April 25, 2019. Smoke from burning ditches was blowing over the road, impairing the visibility of drivers. An SUV, driven by Jo Haer, was headed southbound on 59 when she crossed the center line, hitting another SUV, driven by Eddie Ridley, who was driving northbound. A third vehicle driving northbound and driven by Jeremy Sturtz ran into the rear of the Ridley vehicle.

Three vehicles were involved in two accidents between Tarkio and Fairfax on Hwy. 59 Thursday, April 25, 2019. Smoke from burning ditches along the highway was blowing over the road, impairing the visibility of drivers.

The first accident occurred at 10:01 a.m., 2.6 miles north of Fairfax. Betty Jo Haer, 88, of Tarkio was driving a 2010 Ford Edge southbound on Hwy. 59 and a 2016 Honda CRV, driven by Eddie L. Ridley, 63, of Fairfax was headed northbound. Due to the low visibility from a controlled burn on the east side of the roadway, the Haer vehicle crossed the center line and into the northbound lane of Hwy. 59. The front of the Ford Edge struck the front of the Ridley Honda CRV. The Haer vehicle came to rest in the southbound lane on its wheels facing south and the Ridley vehicle came to rest in the northbound lane on its wheels facing north.

A third vehicle, a 1992 Dodge 3500, driven by Jeremy A. Sturtz, 33 of Tarkio, was also traveling northbound. Due to not being able to see the crash because of the blowing smoke, the Dodge struck the back end of the Ridley Honda. The Dodge came to rest on its wheels in the northbound lane facing north and the Honda remained stopped at the same location.

Eddie Ridley, who was wearing a seatbelt, received moderate injuries in the crashes and was transported by an Atchison-Holt ambulance to Community Hospital-Fairfax in Fairfax, Missouri. Betty Jo Haer received serious injuries and was transported to Community Hospital-Fairfax by an Atchison-Holt ambulance and was then transported by lifeflight to Nebraska Medical Center. According to the accident report, it was unknown if she was wearing a seatbelt. Sturtz, who was wearing a seatbelt, did not report any injuries at the scene.

The 2010 Ford Edge and 2016 Honda CRV received extensive damage and were towed from the scene by Double M Towing of Rock Port, Missouri. The 1992 Dodge 3500 sustained moderate damage and was towed by Top Secret Tow of Tarkio.

The accidents were investigated by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper C.J. Blue, who was assisted by Cpl. S.M. Hux, Atchison County Sheriff’s Department, Fairfax Fire Department, and Atchison-Holt Ambulance District.

A local fireman attempts to put out some of the fire (caused by ditch burning) so smoke wouldn’t continue to blow across the roadway, impairing visibility.