TWO TEENS DIE IN AREA ACCIDENTS; 14-YEAR-OLD WAS DRIVING STOLEN CAR

Two teenagers were killed in separate accidents in the Cape Girardeau area Friday night and early Saturday morning.

A 14-year-old Dexter boy died when the stolen car he was driving crashed early Saturday morning south of Cape Girardeau. Authorities said speed and alcohol were apparently involved in the accident.

Josh Bowman of Dexter was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head injuries. Two other passengers, Phillip Phelps, 19, of Scott City, and Gilbert Faulkner, 15, of Bloomfield, were also injured. Phelps suffered a broken neck.

The accident occurred at about 3:50 a.m., Saturday, on the South Kingshighway-Interstate 55 on-ramp, at the southwest edge of Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter said the car was traveling at a high rate of speed, and failed to make the curve on the South Kingshighway on-ramp. The car became airborne, overturned several times, and landed in a grassy area between Highway 74 and I-55.

He said all three boys were ejected from the car, which has a "T" top opening.

Phelps was listed in fair condition Saturday at Southeast Missouri Hospital with a broken neck. Faulkner was treated and released. Bowman was the son of Charles and Kim Bowman. The body was taken to Cotrell Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Carpenter said Bowman was driving a 1992 Nissan two-door hatchback car reported stolen two weeks ago from a car dealership lot in Dexter. He said the license plate on the car checked to a Bloomfield resident not related to the three youths. The vehicle identification number checked to the Dexter dealership.

According to the coroner, Bowman drove to Bloomfield to pick up Phelps, whom he knew, then drove to Cape Girardeau, where they met the Faulkner youth, whom they did not know. Carpenter said the three boys apparently "cruised" around the Cape Girardeau area until around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, when they headed for Scott City to take Faulkner home.

Carpenter said his office is trying to find out why the 14-year old was at the wheel of the car when the accident occurred.

Bowman's death is the second motor vehicle fatality in Cape Girardeau this year, and the third in Cape Girardeau County.

In a separate accident, 16-year-old Douglas Stanley of Oran died when the car he was driving ran off Highway 77 and overturned several times throwing Stanley from the vehicle, said the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred at 10:50 p.m. Friday, two miles north of Oran. Authorities said Stanley was returning home from work.