News Staff

A crash that started with a jackknifed semi resulted in a pileup involving 20-30 vehicles in Lewis County. The pileup began around 8 a.m. yesterday on U.S. 61, about 2 miles north of Canton. According to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, a semi-truck jackknifed on the slick roadway, triggering a chain reaction crash. U.S. 61 northbound remained closed until last night while tow crews worked to clear crashed vehicles, and traffic was diverted at Highway 16. The driver of the jackknifed semi was transported to the hospital.

The name of the woman who was killed in a fatal accident in Adair County has been released. Robin Wasson, of Milan and a 12-year-old girl from Kirksville both died when the SUV they were traveling in, lost control on an icy patch on Highway 6 about 9 miles west of Novinger. The vehicle was driven by Carlos Varelas, who had moderate injuries. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s report, Wasson and the girl were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by the Adair County Coroner.

Winter weather kept troopers busy in the Troop B region. On Monday, as the snow and ice moved into the area, troopers responded to 61 calls for service between the hours of 1201 am to 11:59 pm. Of those calls 13 were reported crashes, 11 being non-injury, and 2 being injury. The 2 fatalities reported among those crashes was the accident in Adair County.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 13 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. The total case count is now 2,108 with 88 active cases and 2,001 people who have left isolation. The new cases include one in the K-12 schools’ sector and eight in the higher education sector. Eight of the cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case.

You’ll want to drive with extra caution this morning as snow and mixed precipitation overnight is leaving roads slick and snow covered. Snow showers will continue this morning, though it won’t add up to much. Updated road conditions are at modot.org.

After a quiet weekend with one COVID-19 case confirmed on Saturday and four confirmed on Sunday, the Adair County Health Department confirmed 21 new cases on Monday, bringing the total case count to 2,095. There are 84 active cases and 1,994 people who have left isolation. Four of yesterday’s new cases are in the K-12 schools’ sector and three are in the higher education sector. Thirteen cases live at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. A previously reported 83-year-old female was admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center on January 15th. The 81-year-old male reported yesterday was admitted to Northeast Regional on Saturday. A 42-year-old female admitted on January 5th and a 73-year-old male admitted on January 8th have been discharged.

There are no COVID-19 vaccinations going to waste in Adair County. Jim LeBaron, administrator of the Adair County Health Department said you’ve heard of stories about doses not being used and going to waste elsewhere, but not here. He says there is far more demand for the vaccine than doses, so when he health department has doses available, they get on the phone and call the most vulnerable residents to get their vaccine. Lebaron is encouraging the county’s vulnerable and elderly residents to continue submitting vaccine requests via the health department’s website. Those over the age of 65 and those age 18 and older who are at increased risk for severe illness can use the Health Department website’s “Contact Us” feature to receive emails about the Curbside Clinics which will be held at the Health Department. Visit: adair.lphamo.org/contact/

A winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow today to Northern Missouri. In Adair County, plan on slippery road conditions and hazardous conditions that could impact your morning or evening commute. Slow down and use caution while traveling. Check road conditions by calling Missouri’s Road Condition Report (1-888-275-6636) or check MoDOT’s Road Condition Map at http://traveler.modot.org/map/.

The City of Kirksville has declared a Snow Emergency, beginning at 10:00 am. All vehicles must be removed from all Emergency Snow Routes, including City streets in the Downtown, or Central Business District by 12:00 pm. or they will be ticketed and / or towed

A man was seriously injured in a crash with a tractor in Macon County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a tractor driven by David Mason of Macon, pulled into the path of a Jeep Cherokee driven by Lee Boneta of Columbia. The crash happened on US 63 on Mahogany Street Thursday night. The Jeep Cherokee overturned and Boneta was ejected. He was transported by air evac to University Hospital.