Drag racing may have 
led to crash that killed teen

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Author: Heather Ratcliffe

Date: 2003/02/12

Two teenage boys may be charged with vehicular manslaughter after a car driven by one of them in a race against the other went out of control and killed a girl returning home from a library, police said.

The alleged drag race was Monday evening on Lemay Ferry Road in south St. Louis County, about a mile from where a teenager died about six months before in another wreck with drag racing ties.

Megan Landholt, 17, of south St. Louis County, a senior at Mehlville High School, died Monday night at St. Anthony's Medical Center. Her 1998 Nissan Altima collided head-on with a 1992 Chevrolet Camaro that police said had been in the race.

Investigators said the 16-year-old driver of the Camaro apparently lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic near Ringer Road about 6:30 p.m.

The boy, a student at Lindbergh High School, was seriously injured and in stable condition Tuesday. His passengers, two girls ages 14 and 15, suffered minor injuries.

Police arrested the 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle, which they said was in the race. Officials said they would seek manslaughter charges against him and may seek a juvenile charge against the 16-year-old.

At least eight teenagers, including Megan, have been killed in speed-related crashes in South County in the last 18 months.

Police said Megan, who lived with her mother, Barbara Landholt, in the 3700 block of Huntington Valley, had left a public library before the wreck. She was driving south on Lemay Ferry when her car was struck.

Officials said she transferred last year to Mehlville from De Soto High School when her parents, Barbara and David Landholt, separated. She has a brother, David Landholt, 21.

Allen Davis, the De Soto High School basketball coach, said Megan was smart and hard working. She kept statistics for the basketball team and organized golf fund-raisers during the summer.

"She was a fun and easygoing young lady," Davis said. "She'd accomplish any task you gave her."

Police and school officials said they tried to educate teenagers about the dangers of the road. They suggested that a proposal to limit the number of passengers riding with a new driver, under consideration by the Missouri Department of Revenue, might be one way to help.

"Education goes a long way," said Maj. Tim Fitch, patrol commander of the St. Louis County police. "But peer pressure trumps everything. Kids are showing off for their friends. If they were by themselves, there would be no one else to show off to."

Mehlville school officials say they emphasize safety in driver education classes and in the DARE anti-drug program. Students in the Mehlville forensics class see photos of crash scenes and talk about the causes of fatal accidents.

Police developed a program for teenagers called "Arrive Alive" that includes crash scene photos and gruesome details to make its point.

Of 10 fatal crashes in the South County police precinct last year, half were on some part of Lemay Ferry, officers said.

"I don't' think the road itself is causing it," Fitch said. "It's someone pressing the gas pedal that causes it."

Several Mehlville students approached Officer Charlie Rodriguez, the school resource officer, on Tuesday to ask what more they could do.

"They feel very frustrated and mad. They have a lot of emotion built up," Rodriguez said. "They want to take a stand because that could have been them or a family member behind the wheel."

Many of the same students knew two Mehlville graduates who were killed July 30 on Lemay Ferry near Providence Place Drive.

Jonathan M. Hearst and Kevin A. Houska, both 19, were killed when the car in which they were riding hit a guardrail at a curve. Police said the driver, Brandon Ostendorf, 20, had been drag racing shortly before losing control. He was indicted on two counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Other recent South County fatal crashes involving teens include:

Jan. 19: Patrick J. Limmer, 15, of south St. Louis County, was killed when the speeding car he was driving lost control while jumping hills in the 13300 block of West Watson Road. Police said Patrick, a sophomore at St. Mary's High School, was not a licensed driver. Two passengers were treated for minor injuries.

Nov. 15: Greg Formhals and Ryan Devine, 16, students at Lindbergh High School, were killed when Formhals lost control of his Mitsubishi Eclipse in wet and windy conditions on Gravois Road near Chateau Chura Drive. Their car veered into oncoming traffic and struck a sport utility vehicle with five people inside.

Sept. 26, 2001: Michael Fendler, 19, and Jordan Feager, 19, both former students in the Mehlville School District, were killed in a hill-jumping incident along Patterson Road near Yeager Court. Police said Fendler might have been driving in excess of 100 mph. Two others in the car were injured.

Other recent South County fatal crashes involving teens: 

Jan. 19: Patrick J. Limmer of south St. Louis County was killed when the speeding car he was driving lost control while jumping hills on West Watson Road.

Nov. 15: Lindbergh High School students Greg Formhals and Ryan Devine were killed when Formhals lost control of his car in wet and windy conditions on Gravois Road.

July 30: Mehlville graduates Jonathan M. Hearst and Kevin A. Houska were killed when the car in which they were riding hit a guardrail at a curve.

Sept. 26, 2001: Michael Fendler and Jordan Feager, both former students in the Mehlville School District, were killed in a hill-jumping incident along Patterson Road.

Reporter Heather Ratcliffe:
E-mail: hratcliffe@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-863-2821

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