An 85-year-old woman well known to many in the Ava area, died in a one-vehicle crash north of Mtn. Grove last Saturday.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Laura J. Findley was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by Wright County Coroner Ben Hurtt following the 2:22 p.m. wreck.
According to Cpl. C.E. Dill of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Findley was traveling south on Highway 95, three miles north of Mtn. Grove, when she ran her 2004 Lexus SUV off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle hit a highway road sign, an electric pole and guy wire, and embankment and two trees, then overturned.
The victim was wearing a seatbelt but was partially ejected through the sunroof, according to the Patrol report.
Ms. Findley had been heavily involved with veterans activities in this area and also bowled with women in the Ava area.
The body was taken to Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Mansfield.
This is the 26th traffic fatality in Troop G for 2011, compared to 27 fatalities at the same time a year ago.
Shirley Gott-Stoecker, 72, of Garrison, was taken to St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, by ambulance, with minor injuries following a crash Tuesday.
The Highway Patrol said the wreck occurred two miles south of Garrison on Highway 125, in Christian County.
The investigating officer, Tpr. Justin Choate, said the 2 p.m. crash occurred when Gott-Stoecker ran her 2006 Saturn Vue off the right edge of the roadway, returned to the roadway and overturned.
Mrs. Gott-Stoecker is a former teacher at Ava High School.
