One man drowned, six people died in traffic crashes during Fourth of July weekend

At least six people died in traffic crashes and one drowned over the holiday weekend, according to law enforcement.

Missouri State Highway Patrol stated in a news release that troopers worked 285 traffic crashes. Of those, 107 were injured and six were fatalities. Troopers made 141 DWI arrests and 82 drug arrests as well.

There were at least 11 boating crashes that resulted in five injuries. Troopers arrested 13 for BWI and there were 18 drug arrests.

Uriel P. Ramirez, of Collinsville, Ill. jumped off a bluff into the Meramec River in Meramec State Park and drowned July 4. The 25-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three of the traffic fatalities happened in the Springfield area. Two occurred in Weldon Spring and one in Poplar Bluff areas. The highway patrol shared more about the fatalities in a news release.

Jack K. Meese, of New Madrid, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, struck a tree, overturned and caught fire Saturday on Missouri Highway P west of Arab in Bollinger County. The 48-year-old was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jasper resident Wayne E. Sprenkle, 57, died when the motorcycle he was operating swerved to avoid an item in the roadway July 2. He lost control of the motorcycle and it overturned. Sprenkle was ejected. Both the motorcycle and Sprenkle skidded across the center of the roadway and came to rest in the passing lane on Interstate 49 south of Sheldon in Barton County. Sprenkle was not wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Diamond man was operating a UTV when it traveled off the right side of the roadway, he overcorrected and the vehicle overturned. Brian A. Bradley, 51, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash on Elder Road west of Diamond in Newton County. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thirty-three year old Kailey R. Spencer, of Troy, died Sunday when she was struck by a vehicle on Missouri Highway 47 in Lincoln County. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck Spencer was not injured.

Bruce D. Dodge, 60, died when the motorcycle he was riding struck the rear of a vehicle. The Wyandotte man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash in Seneca on Missouri Highway 43 in Newton County. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle Dodge struck was not injured.

Twenty-nine year old Scott J. Drennen died while he was walking when a driver left the right side of the roadway onto the shoulder and struck him in St. Louis County. Drennen was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Springfield pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a car that was hit by another car. Thomas E. Murph, 62, was transported to Cox South Hospital after driver Collin J. Powell, 26, of Springfield, struck a parked car which struck Murph. Powell then hit another parked car. The crash happened Sunday at 11:02 p.m. on Meadowlark Drive.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Several fatalities reported following holiday weekend