Minor injuries as SUV crashes, catches fire

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Polk Township firefighters are shown at the scene of a fiery vehicle crash early Wednesday on Highway 71 south of Wilcox. The driver, Trevor J. Meyer of Burlington Junction, escaped the wreck with minor injuries before the Ford SUV caught fire.

A Burlington Junction man suffered minor injuries early Wednesday in a fiery one-vehicle crash on Highway 71 one and a half miles south of Wilcox.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Trevor J. Meyer, 19, was northbound in a 2001 Ford Explorer shortly after 12:30 a.m. when he lost control of the wheel and traveled off the east side of the roadway.

The Ford SUV struck a ditch, overturned several times, and came to rest on its top facing northeast, the patrol report stated.

Meyer, who had been wearing a seat belt, was able to exit the overturned vehicle before it burst into flames.

Capt. Phil Rickabaugh, supervisor of the Maryville Public Safety fire division, said the SUV was on fire when a state trooper arrived on scene. Polk Township firefighters responded as well and brought the blaze under control.

Firefighters remained at the wreck site until just after 2 a.m.

The truck was destroyed and had to be hauled away. Rickabaugh said any number of circumstances could have caused the vehicle to catch fire.

Trooper J.D. Farmer was assisted in working the accident by personnel from the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office.