3 dead in car-semi crash near Bonne Terre

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- A crash involving a passenger car and a tractor-trailer has left three people dead in Southeast Missouri.

The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. Thursday on U.S. 67, a few miles north of Bonne Terre in St. Francois County.

KMOV-TV reported the three people killed were all inside the full-size passenger car. Their names were being withheld while their families were notified.

Authorities said it appeared the tractor-trailer hit the back of the car.

Investigators were still trying Thursday night to figure out why the crash occurred and if the weather and road conditions were to blame.

Much of eastern Missouri received heavy snow Wednesday and Thursday, but aerial images of the scene showed the highway had been plowed and the pavement was visible.