Missouri Highway Patrol reports more than 1,000 crashes in the state

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported more than 1,000 crashes happened state-wide between the first two days of this week’s snow. In that, 96 injuries and two deaths happened between Tuesday and Wednesday. That’s compared to the mere 100 crashes troopers assist in the state on an average day.

In addition to those numbers, troopers answered 3,045 calls for help during the same time period. Those calls include vehicles breaking down, sliding off the roadway, or vehicles being left on the side of the road.

Closer to home, Boone County’s 911 Dispatch website shows emergency responders serviced more than 80 crashes on Tuesday. Nineteen of those were injury accidents. On Wednesday, four more injury accidents were added to that list.

Considering these numbers, several people are in need of towing companies, auto shops and rental car facilities.

One Columbia repair shop said they have seen an influx of damaged vehicles since the freezing rain from one week ago. In fact, Repair Service Manager Steve Casey said they have been repairing roughly 50 cars per day since then.

Damage estimates range from $300 to $2,000. Casey said the majority of cars in these weather-related accidents land at the higher end of that estimate.

“As you can see, we’re stacking (cars) up two to a bay, so our space is very limited,” Casey said.

The best advice is to stay off the roads in icy or snowy conditions. Based on these numbers, hundreds of people faced long waiting periods for help, and now, pay the price for thousands of dollars in repairs.

“You might think you’re the best driver and you’re safe driver, but you can’t always depend on what someone else is going to do,” said Captain Tim Hull of the state highway patrol. “Your best protection is to make sure you’re wearing a seat belt and you’ve got everyone in your car in a seat belt or in an approved child restraint.”