PERRYVILLE TEENAGER DIES IN AUTO ACCIDENT

FRUITLAND -- One Perryville youth was killed and two others injured after their car struck a tree on Highway 61 about four miles north of Fruitland Saturday night.

Sgt. J.J. King of the Missouri Highway Patrol said that at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday, the driver lost control of the 1979 Oldsmobile while rounding a curb on the wrong side of the road, causing the car to spin out of control and slam into a nearby tree.

The driver of the vehicle, Jason Ritch, 16, of Perryville, was killed instantly.

The front seat passenger, Brad Lottes, 17, of Perryville, received moderate injuries in the crash. Lottes was treated at St. Francis Medical Center and released Sunday.

Christopher Cissell, 17, of Perryville, was riding in the back seat at the time of the accident. Cissell was transported to St. Francis Medical Center with serious injuries. He remains at St. Francis in stable condition.

Ritch and Cissell were not wearing seat belts, King said.