3 killed in eastern Missouri crash

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- A teenage driver and two young passengers are dead following a collision on U.S. 61 near St. Genevieve.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident happened shortly after noon Thursday near Ste. Genevieve, about 60 miles north of Cape Girardeau. The patrol said 19-year-old Paige Johnson, of Ste. Genevieve, was driving north when she tried to pass another vehicle, lost control and veered into the southbound lanes. Johnson's car collided with a southbound pickup truck.

Authorities said the crash killed Johnson and her two passengers, 10-year-old Clayton Grass and 12-year-old Lucas Welton, both of Ste. Genevieve. All three were wearing seat belts.

The driver of the pickup truck was flown to a hospital with what the patrol described as moderate injuries.