Marshall infant flown to St. Louis hospital after Boone County crash
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Marshall infant was flown to a St. Louis hospital Wednesday after a crash on Highway 40 that also sent three adults to a hospital.
Around 5 a.m. Thursday morning, University Hospital spokesman Eric Maze said 37-year-old Brandon Lewis is in fair condition. The person driving the car he and the child were in, Sonniquka McKamey, is still in fair condition.
The driver of the other vehicle, Lonnie Duncan, was released from the hospital.
The crash happened when a 2009 Buick ran a stop sign and went into the path of a pickup truck traveling on Highway 40 at North Rollingwood Boulevard, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. The road was closed after the crash.
The infant was riding in the Buick and troopers say they believe the child was not restrained. No one else in the car was wearing seat belts.
Sgt. Shawn Braza with the Missouri highway patrol was at the scene of the crash. Braza says the collision caused the infant to be ejected from the Buick during the crash.
"The child we believe was ejected through the back glass, cause all the other windows were intact on the passenger side," said Braza.
The incident has troopers reminding people of the importance of buckling up. Brazas said a seat belt could have prevented the ejection.
"We believe that young child was not restrained and because that young child was not restrained that child was ejected. So I would like to reinforce to all the parents out there that it's not up to the child. It's your responsibility to restrain your child, the child doesn't know to restrain themselves, it's not their responsibility," Brazas said.
The Buick driver, Sonnikqua McKamey, 29, and passenger Brandon Lewis, 37, both of Marshall, were taken to University Hospital by ambulance. McKamey suffered serious injuries and Lewis had moderate injuries, according to the patrol crash report.
The driver of the truck, Lonnie Duncan, 56, of Glasgow, suffered moderate injuries and went to University Hospital by ambulance. Duncan was wearing a seat belt, the patrol reported.
Missouri state highway Patrol SGT. Shawn Brazas said, "I would like to reinforce to all the parents out there that its not up to the child its your responsibility to restrain your child the child doesn't know to restrain themselves. Its not their responsibility."
So far there have been no updates on the condition of the child.
