Five inmates, two officers hurt in Highway 124 crash
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two corrections officers and five prison inmates were hurt when a Department of Corrections van crashed in northern Boone County on Tuesday.
Parts of Highway 63 and Highway 124 were closed at their intersections after the crash.
The Department of Corrections van was traveling northbound on Highway 63 when it struck a Peterbilt 357 Power Unit that was hauling a trailer as it tried to cross from 63 from Highway 124, according to the Highway Patrol's crash report.
The crash happened around 1:30 but officials were able to clear the scene just after 2 pm.
When ABC 17 crews arrived on the scene, there were five vehicles from the Boone County Fire Protection District including including a large fire truck and multiple highway patrol vehicles surrounding the scene and one stationed a couple hundred feet in front of the crash to help direct traffic.
The Department of Corrections says that there were three different facilities involved in the crash.
Two offenders were returning from legal and medical appointments at Crossroads Correctional Center, two more were being transferred to Crossroads while one was being transferred to the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center.
The names of the people inside the DOC van were:
- Richard L Kerksiek, 34, of Warrensburg
- John C Novello, 36
- Dustin S Burkhart, 40, of Camdenton
- Raymond J Nugen, 44, of Hazelwood
- John M Holland, 46, of Sikeston
- Jeremy H Fulk, 29, of Trenton
- Shelby J McGowan, 43, of Trenton
Kerksiek serving a 31-year sentence for multiple charges including statutory sodomy and incest. Novello was sentenced to 25 years for charges that included illegal weapons possession and forcible sodomy.
Burkhart was found guilty last week of first-degree assault, first-degree burglary and armed criminal action. His sentencing hearing will take place in February.
Nugen is serving five years for first-degree child molestation. He was sentenced to five years in the DOC on Sept. 26.
Holland pleaded guilty in 2022 to second-degree assault and second-degree kidnapping and is serving a five-year sentence.
Fulk and McGowen were the only two wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, and are believed to be the two officers involved. Fulk was driving the van, the report states.
All seven were transferred to University Hospital in an ambulance. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report Fulk, Novello, and McGowan suffered minor injuries while Kerksiek, Burkhart, Nugen and Holland were said to have moderate injuries.
