Apr 17, 2008

One driver was airlifted to a Springfield hospital with serious injuries following a one-vehicle crash west of Ava on April 6, but three drivers involved in wrecks during the past week were ticketed for driving while intoxicated, according to Highway Patrol reports. Mark A. Hodges, 54, of Marionville, was taken by helicopter to St. John’s Hospital on Sunday, April 6, after he crashed the 19979 Ford van he was driving on Highway 14 west of Ava. The Highway Patrol said the wreck occurred at 9:56 p.m., seven miles west of Ava. Tpr. R.D. Crewse reported that Hodges ran off the left side of the roadway, traveled through a ditch, impacting several trees before coming to a stop off the roadway. He was cited for driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, careless and imprudent driving, and no seat belt, the report said. Vonni L. Andresen, 43, Ava, escaped serious injury last Thursday when she lost control of her 2002 Chrysler van and ran off Highway 76, west of Route KK, at 6:40 p.m. Her 6-year-old son, who was a passenger in the van, also escaped injury. The Highway Patrol said Andresen was arrested for driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle in a careless an imprudent manner. A short time later, Patricia L. Haskins, 50, of Springfield, ran off Highway 5, about three miles south of Ava, and was cited for DWI and C&I driving. The Highway Patrol said Haskins was traveling north on Highway 5 in a 1993 Mercury Cougar when she ran off the road at 8 p.m. The car ran off the right side of the roadway, hit a concrete culvert and embankment, causing the car to go airborne for 50 feet. It then hit a tree and came to rest well off the roadway.