Slick road conditions and heavy holiday road traveling caused several serious Missouri car accidents over the weekend, including a fatal incident involving a Missouri Highway Patrol Officer.  Holiday traveling increased this year from the last as motorists took advantage of lower gas prices and a "slightly improved" economic outlook.  Storms moved into the state early Christmas eve and continued to dump snow and ice through the holiday weekend.  Travelers were hit on their way out of town and return back home.  Air travel was also snarled as airports were forced to deal with the inclement weather.

Missouri Highway Patrol Cpl. Dennis Engelhard was killed in the line of duty on Christmas day as he assisted other motorists on Interstate 44 in Eureka Missouri.  As Engelhard exited his patrol car, a SUV reportedly lost control and struck Engelhard, causing fatal injuries.  Cpl. Engelhard was a 10 year veteran trooper of the Missouri Highway Patrol.  He was revered as a very respected trooper.

Missouri drivers and out-of-state travelers are urged to exercise increased caution when navigating the state's highways, as reports of black ice have been called in to the Missouri Department of Transportation.  Black ice commonly forms when the sun sets and melting snow and slush freezes into a sheen that blends in with blacktop and asphalt, making it discrete to drivers.  If you are injured in a car accident in Missouri, contact authorities and medical responders immediately.