4 Vehicle Crash With Injury in Grant County

On Thursday around 5:20pm the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a four vehicle crash on Hwy 133 near Dog Tail Road near Potosi. An investigation revealed that there were three vehicles traveling westbound on Highway 133. The first vehicle was a 2015 Jeep driven by 35 year old Debie Meade of Hampshire, Illinois. Riding with her was 33 year old Rachelle Gutierrez of Chicago. The second vehicle was a 2023 Mazda driven by 68 year old Laurie Baliff of rural Potosi. The third westbound vehicle was a 2016 Toyota Highlander driven by 69 year old Deborah Bartels of Cassville. Riding with Bartels was 90 year old Marilyn Soule, also of Cassville. At the same time the three vehicles were traveling westbound, 30 year old Kristen Schnabl of Livingston was driving her 2004 Chevy Silverado eastbound. Riding with Schnabl was her 1-year-old daughter. Schnabl was attempting to negotiate a curve while reaching for a sippy cup. In the process, she crossed the centerline, into the eastbound lane and struck all three of the other vehicles. Each vehicle had heavy damage to their driver’s side as the Schnabl vehicle had struck each one. After striking the three vehicles, Schnabl’s vehicle continued across the eastbound lane and slammed into a concrete barrier on the north side of the roadway. The vehicle had heavy front end and driver’s side damages. Schnabl became trapped in the vehicle. Schnabl was eventually extricated and taken to Grant Regional Health Center for non-life threatening injuries. Her 1-year-old daughter was not injured. There were several injuries to drivers and passengers of the three westbound vehicles. Some individuals were taken to Grant Regional Health Center by EMS, others were taken by private vehicle. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Schnabl was cited for Inattentive Driving and Operating Left of Center. The matter remains under investigation as criminal charges are possibly pending.