ONE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIVES OF 3 TEENS

PIEDMONT -- Three persons were killed when a truck left the road and struck a utility pole Friday.

Dead were driver Joseph Barns, 16, of Piedmont and passengers John Nash, 12, of Piedmont and Ryan Nash, 13, of St. Louis.

The Missouri Highway Patrol said the accident occurred on Route 24, about a mile west of Piedmont, at around 2:15 p.m.

The truck, after leaving the road, ran down an embankment before striking the utility pole. No seat belts were used, the patrol said.