Desoto Man Dead After Accident

(Jefferson County, MO.) A Desoto man, 48 year old Leon J. Barnett, is dead after a two vehicle accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV on Northbound Interstate 55 that took place just after 2:15 Wednesday afternoon. According to reports from officers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Barnett was driving north in the 3rd lane of the highway, at a slow rate of speed near mile marker 184, when an SUV driven north in the 2nd lane, by 49 year old James D. Mattingly of Herculaneum, changed lanes and crashed into the rear of Barnett's motorcycle throwing him from the bike. Barnett was wearing his helmet when the accident took place and Mattingly was wearing his seat belt. Mattingly received minor injuries.