St. Charles County, Missouri – Early on Friday morning, September 20, 2024, a tragic accident occurred on Highway 94, east of Howell Road, resulting in the death of one person and severe injuries to four others.
Miquel A. Smith, 22, of St. Peters, Missouri, was driving a 2009 Honda Accord when the vehicle went off the right side of the road. Smith attempted to overcorrect, causing the car to overturn. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Smith, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, suffered severe injuries and was transported by the St. Charles County Ambulance District to Mercy Hospital St. Louis.
Tragically, one of the passengers, Miranda K. Douglas, 22, of St. Charles, Missouri, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:48 a.m. by the New Melle Fire Protection District personnel. Her body was taken to the St. Louis County Morgue by the St. Charles County Medical Examiner.
The other passengers in the vehicle also sustained serious injuries. Savannah L. Burfield, 21, of O’Fallon, Missouri, and Gabriel A. Angelo, 22, of St. Peters, Missouri, were both seriously hurt and transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Neither of them was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Another passenger, Braden J. Moore, 23, of St. Peters, Missouri, who was the only person wearing a seatbelt, was critically injured and also taken to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
The vehicle was totaled in the accident and had to be towed from the scene. The incident has raised concerns over the importance of seatbelt use, as it was a contributing factor in the severity of the injuries sustained.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and urge drivers to exercise caution on the roads. The community mourns the loss of Miranda K. Douglas and hopes for the swift recovery of the injured.