Columbia man died in city's second fatal accident this year

A 64-year-old Columbia man died Thursday of injuries he suffered earlier this week in a traffic accident.

It’s the second motorist death so far this year in the city.

Columbia Police said in a news release that Robert L. Hickem was driving north on Highway 63 on Monday when he lost control of his vehicle. He had apparently drifted into the grass median and then turned sharply to correct, causing his car to skid back across the road. It then overturned into the ditch on the right side of the road.

Hickem’s injuries were serious but he was conscious when he was taken from the crash scene by ambulance to University Hospital, according to the release.

The Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Friday that Hickem’s death was the result of injuries he suffered in the crash.