Darrell Todd Maurina
Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 6:00 pm

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Jan. 20, 2010) — Post officials have confirmed that one person was killed in an early Wednesday morning traffic crash on Polla Road between Waynesville and Fort Leonard Wood that shut down the West Gate from Waynesville and snarled traffic for hours at the main gate from Saint Robert.

Early reports indicate that the crash happened near a bridge on Polla Road; Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel confirm that they were called at 6:52 a.m. to assist in transporting an additional patient from the crash site.

In a Wednesday afternoon media release, post spokesman Jeff Maddy said the fatality crash victim was a civilian but the name is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. The incident remains under investigation, he said.

“Preliminary investigation revealed the victim was operating a 1999 Dodge Stratus and was apparently attempting to make a U-turn from a stopped position on the right shoulder of the east bound Polla road. The victim's vehicle was struck by a 2005 GMC Yukon traveling east,” Maddy said. “The victim's vehicle was totaled and the majority of the damage was located on the driver side of the vehicle near the driver's door.”

Emergency personnel attempted resuscitation efforts on the victim and transported him to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, where he was then pronounced dead. Post officials say the other driver was treated at the post hospital for minor injuries and later released.

According to Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel, that second driver was Melvin Wright, 34, who was transported to the post hospital at 7:12 a.m.

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