FIVE TREATED FOLLOWING TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT

Four teen-agers from Benton and a man on his way home from work were involved in an accident Tuesday that put them in the Southeast Missouri Hospital emergency room.

Brian Boyer, 36, of Advance said he was driving his pickup home from Delta Concrete going west on Sprigg Street toward the underpass through Interstate 55. As he crossed the bridge over Ramsey Creek, Raymond Galloway, 17, of Benton, was driving his car off northbound Interstate 55.

"They didn't stop," Boyer said. "Next thing I knew they were in front of me."

Boyer's pickup broadsided Galloway's car in the middle of the passenger side. When the two vehicles stopped moving, Boyer's truck was facing east with its engine compartment accordioned. Galloway's car was in the ditch on the north side of the intersection with its passenger side in the air. Two passengers were thrown from the back seat of the car.

Jennifer Rulo, 14, had her leg pinned under the car, while Brandi Housman, 14, lay on ground. Galloway and his friend, Sonia Kerprien, 16, were trapped in the car.

A passing truck driver called the police on his CB radio and another passing motorist stopped and assured the injured that help was on its way. All five of the injured were conscious and talking.

Rulo's sister, Angela, said she was in another car headed to the same night spot the others were headed. She said she turned back to look for her friends when they didn't show up.

Patrolman Sonny Kincaid said the truck driver who stopped confirmed Boyer's account. There were no skid marks at the scene, so no one appeared to have braked, Kincaid said.

Kincaid said none of the injuries was life-threatening. Rulo appeared to be the most seriously injured, he said. Doctors sent her to CAT scan to check her for fractured vertebrae in her neck, he said. Galloway had broken fingers, Kincaid said.

Police said Galloway was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to yield the right of way.