78 year-old Burlee Sanders died in a serious automobile crash this morning near Steele Missouri.  Thelma Sanders, who was driving their 1996 Ford, sustained serious personal injuries in the crash as well.  Authorities report that Gary Ellis of Greenville Missouri failed to stop at a posted stop sign and broadsided the Sanders' Ford.  The Pemiscot County Coroner reported that Burlee Sanders died at the scene of the crash.  His wife Thelma was taken by emergency helicopter to Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis Tennessee.  Next of kin have been notified of this fatality.

Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that citations are pending against Gary Ellis for failing to stop at a stop sign.  If found guilty, the charge would be a third-degree misdemeanor and  violation of Missouri Revised Statute 304.351, "Right of Way at Intersection".  When drivers plead guilty to a charge of failing to observe one of Missouri's Statutory Rules of the Road, they may be found negligent per se in a subsequent civil personal injury action.  In theory, the violation of a statute or city ordinance creates a presumption that the driver was negligent. Negligence is a legal term that says that a driver breached his/her duty of ordinary care. 

The Burlee Sanders may likely lead to a viable wrongful death claim.  Such a claim must be brought in accordance with Missouri's Wrongful Death Statute, Section 537.080.  Therefore, it is possible that Burlee's surviving wife, Thelma Sanders, will be able to file this type of action. The laws in Missouri are extremely particular when involving a civil claim for wrongful death.  Survivors should call an experienced Missouri Wrongful Death Attorney at Schultz Legal Group to discuss the proper steps in filing this type of civil action.  Our attorneys can be contacted by email, online, or toll-free at 866-840-3636. Don't be victimized twice!