Troopers release identities of fatal crash victims

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the victims involved in the fatal accident on U.S. Highway 50 that killed four people and injured seven others Friday night.

Kristine White, 41, of Otterville, died Saturday from injuries she suffered in the accident, Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Collin Stosberg said.

Ivan Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Pedro Hernandez Regaldo, 21, and Lucas Toto Escribano, 38, all of Ames, Iowa, were pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m. Friday at the scene of the accident by Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond.

Stosberg said the Highway Patrol did not immediately release the names of the victims involved in the accident because they had to first notify next of kin for each of the four people who died. Because three of those who were killed in the crash resided outside of Missouri, troopers were unable to contact their families until Monday.

The accident happened just before 7:30 p.m. Friday. Gonzalez-Gutierrez was driving a Mercury Sable, which was southbound on state Route 135, and failed to stop at a stop sign at U.S. Highway 50, driving into the path of White’s Chevrolet Impala, which struck the left side of the Sable, Stosberg said.

After the impact, White’s vehicle struck a 2002 Audi driven by Eric Staffen, of Overland Park, Kan. Staffen was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center for the treatment of moderate injuries, Stosberg said.

Carlos Jimenez, 21, and German Rivera-Jimenez, 19, both of Ames and occupants of the Mercury Sable, were airlifted to hospitals with serious injuries.

White was taken to University Hospital in Columbia, where she was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. Saturday.

People who knew White described her as a loving and committed wife and mother. She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Sedalia, taught in the Otterville School District and worked at the Plainsman weeklies and the Democrat from 1993 to 1996.

Jean Brown, who runs the child care and extended session programs at First Baptist Church, worked with Kristine for years in the church’s Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) program.

Brown said the White family joined the church more than 10 years ago. Since then, Kristine had dedicated her time to reaching out to young people in the church, taking over MOPS last year, coordinating the children and preschool ministry, organizing the church’s annual fall festival and managing youth programs during the week.

“She just put her heart into that job at First Baptist. Nothing was more important to her heart than for boys and girls to be involved in church and to let them know that they are loved,” Brown said. “She opened herself up to be there when anybody needed her. Nobody can replace her, but those positions will be hard to fill.”

Along with her involvement in the First Baptist congregation, Kristine also dedicated her time to children in the community in other ways. She served as a substitute teacher in the Otterville School District and participated in the mentor program at Heber Hunt Elementary School.

Jill Peterson, a friend who met Kristine through church nearly 10 years ago, said Kristine affected everybody she knew, from toddlers to the elderly. Peterson said Kristine was always thinking of other people, often brightening their days with handwritten cards or letters and her ever-present smile.

“She was the most beautiful person on the inside I have ever known. She was a great listener and friend who really cared about people,” Peterson said. “She made you feel like the most important person. She had that affect on everyone.”

“The biggest thing about her is that she loved big,” said Kathy Moore, a friend and member of Kristine’s church.

“There are just countless things this woman did for the community that even I don’t know.”

White’s three daughters, who were occupants in the vehicle, were also hospitalized after the wreck. Rebecca White, 11, was taken to University Hospital for serious injuries. Sarah White, 10, and Abby White, 4, received treatment at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

Phillip White, 49, who was driving the Impala, was also taken to University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, troopers reported.

First Baptist Church Pastor Drew Hill dedicated his Sunday morning service to Kristine and the White family.

“Our whole church yesterday, the whole service ... was on Kristine and how we can heal and grieve and go forward,” Brown said.

Brown said the silver lining of Kristine’s tragic death is seeing the way in which the congregation rallied around her family. She said following the Sunday service, some of the men from the church went to the White’s house to install a ramp that will help as Phillip recovers from injuries he suffered in the accident, while some of the women prepared food for when the White family can return to their home.

Kristine White’s visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Sedalia. Her funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.