New Madrid County, Missouri — June 11, 2012

A three-vehicle crash Monday afternoon involving two semis and a mini van resulted in injuries to an Arkadelphia man and two children.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a series of rear-end collisions occurred at 2:10 p.m. on southbound Interstate 55 at mile post 56. The accident involved 43-year-old Michael B. Handiboe’s Chrysler Town & Country, a semi driven by 30-year-old Cleveland, Tennessee resident Larry M. Smith and a second semi, which was driven by 51-year-old Campbellsport, Wisconsin resident Bret R. Fickler. However, details of the accident are still unclear.

A trooper originally reported Mr. Handiboe’s van rear-ended Mr. Smith’s semi, which had reportedly slowed for traffic. The report suggests Mr. Smith’s semi then collided with the one driven by Bret R. Fickler.

But witnesses and friends and family of those involved claim the report is inaccurate. They say Mr. Handiboe’s van was rear-ended by one of the semis, with the force of that collision pushing it into the other. A photo supposedly taken at the scene by a witness shows significant damage to the rear of the van. Witnesses also have claimed adverse weather conditions could have impacted visibility, but such details are not – and almost never are – included in the report.

Following the accident, Mr. Handiboe and a 14-year-old child in his van, Zachary R. Handiboe, also of Arkadelphia, reportedly suffered moderate injuries. A second child, 4-year-old Jonathon M. Handiboe, suffered minor injuries. The three were taken to St. Francis Medical Center.

The semi drivers were not listed as injured in the report.

According to the National Safety Council, more than 2.5 million rear-end collisions are reported every year, making them the most common type of automobile accident.

If you would like an official copy of the police report, request a copy with this form.

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  • Laura Bradford

    Did anyone drive by this accident?

  • Ayladan

    How, if Mr. Handiboe was the cause of the semi’s rear-ending each other, could this happen to the van???  The actual accident was a semi rear-ended Mr. Handiboe and pushed him into the other semi.  Also, the 14-year old does not have “moderate” injuries, he just had surgery to repair his bowel!  Get your facts straight!!!!

  • Rnrfn

    i was a “witness” to this accident, and will say that the police report, if it reads as stated above, is totally incorrect.i say “witness” in quotes because everyone on the road in the vicinity of his vehicle was completely blinded by swirling dirt and debris.  i’m concerned when it is time for insurance to pay for his vehicle and medical bills. i was first on the scene and assisted him and his kids. it was not due to traffic, but a tornado coming across the road, and there was absolutely no visibility. when visibility returned, the semi next to me was on top of mr handiboe’s vehicle, and the front of his vehicle smushed in and the front semi was pulled off to the side. one cannot assign blame, it was a very scary incident, but as law states, the back vehicle is “at fault”. i”m sorry the police didnt more accurately obtain information.

  • rnrfn

    yes! i’m very concerned when it comes time for insurance to replace the vehicle and pay medical bills. i was first on the scene, and can attest to the fact that this police report is completely inaccurate. that is very disappointing. i don’t feel any blame can be assigned, due to the very scary weather that caused complete and immediate lack of visibility, but i know that the law says the back vehicle is ” at fault” in a collision. all in all, a very terrible day, i hope the family will all be ok. the back semi was right beside me, and i know the driver was distraught. i have been thinking of the handiboes and keeping them in my prayers. i found this and was shocked at the inaccurate headline.  

  • findmyaccident

    Thank you for providing a first-hand account of this incident. 

    Our staff will investigate further and make the appropriate updates. 

    Our thoughts are with the Handiboe family. 

  • Michael Handiboe

    Hello world, this is Mr Handiboe.  Because of all the legal implications, I am not free to say much.     It’s been almost 9 months, a very challenging 9 months.  We have survived and seem to be doing okay (right now, anyway).   My 4-yr old and 14-yr old have been released from medical care — I am still not yet fully released.    I -think- I am satisfied with how my medical and my auto insurance has handled the situation (I could be wrong on that, though).   My employer has been very gracious.   I am not satisfied at all beyond that. 

    I have an attorney who specializes in these things.   Hopefully we won’t have to go to court, but it’s looking that way.   To my knowledge, all other parties are acting unawares that anything even happened.