7 injured in Southern Missouri school van crash

TECUMSAH, Mo. (AP) -- Six high school students and a teacher were injured Friday when a school van went off a southern Missouri highway during a trip to a youth business conference.

All seven people were injured and taken to area hospitals, but there was no information on the extent of the injuries, Gainesville schools Superintendent Bill Looney said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash was still under investigation.

The van from Gainesville High School was driving eastbound on U.S. 160 near Tecumseh, about 30 miles west of West Plains. It apparently left the road, but a cause has not been determined.

A Highway Patrol dispatcher said all six students on board and the driver, who is a teacher, were reported injured.

Looney said the high school students were part of the Future Business Leaders of America group on their way to a conference in West Plains.

High school business teacher Patsy Hamilton was driving, Looney said.

The district, which has about 620 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, did not release the names of the students.