Eastern Missouri couple killed by wrong-way driver

HILLSBORO, Mo. (AP) — An eastern Missouri husband and wife are dead after their SUV was struck by a wrong-way driver south of St. Louis.

The accident happened Tuesday afternoon on Highway B in Jefferson County. Authorities say the woman accused of causing the accident was cited for driving while intoxicated causing death.

Killed in the accident were 85-year-old John Rickus and 87-year-old Helen Rickus of Bloomsdale, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Police say John Rickus was driving south when a northbound vehicle traveling in the southbound lanes collided head-on with Rickus’ SUV. Rickus’ vehicle became airborne and struck the side of a pickup truck.

John and Helen Rickus were pronounced dead hours later at a hospital.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the driver of the car that struck the SUV was 35-year-old Katie Palmer of Jackson. Patrol records show that Palmer was cited for DWI causing death. No one answered the phone at Palmer’s home on Wednesday.

Palmer suffered moderate injuries, according to the patrol report. The pickup truck driver was unhurt.