CAPE WOMAN DIES IN EARLY MORNING ACCIDENT

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A Cape Girardeau woman was killed and two others seriously injured in a two-car accident early Thursday morning in the 200 block of North Kingshighway.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter identified the victim as Brenda Bess, 38, of 133 S. Ellis.

Injured were Cape Girardeau residents Richard N. Deimund II, 21, of 3250 Lakewood; and Laura G. Garner, 31, of 618 Boxwood.

Both were taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital. Deimund was listed in fair condition at the hospital Thursday. Garner, who was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Bess, was reported in serious condition, a hospital spokesperson said.

The accident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. at the intersection of North Kingshighway and Themis, Cape Girardeau Police said.

Investigators said Bess was attempting to make a left turn to proceed south on Kingshighway when her car was struck on the driver's side by a northbound vehicle driven by Deimund.

Authorities said both of the compact Dodge Omnis involved in the accident were demolished from the impact of the collision.

Cape Girardeau firefighters were called to extricate the body of the victim and the two persons who were injured.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner, but Bess was not identified until shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday.

Carpenter explained that there was no identification on the body. He said tentative identification was made by Cape Girardeau Police Officer Danny Niswonger, who was a school classmate of the victim. Niswonger notified Bess' brother, Bob Bess, who made a positive identification.

Police said an investigation of the accident is continuing.

Thursday's traffic accident was the second fatal accident in the city this year. Sherry L. Philip, 39, of Jackson, was killed Jan. 30 when the car she was driving was struck from behind by another car on Interstate 55, one mile north of Route K.

Last year, three people died in two fatal accidents in the city, police said.