TWO-CAR ACCIDENT KILLS BABY

NEW MADRID -- A 6-month-old boy was killed in a two-vehicle accident two miles west of New Madrid Wednesday night, and five other people were hospitalized.

Timothy Collins died in the crash at about 9:30 on Highway U, the Missouri Highway Patrol said.

Four other passengers in the car and the driver of the other vehicle were injured in the accident.

They were all taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston and then the family members were transported to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau later Wednesday.

Collins' mother, Tammie Collins, 21, of Lilbourn was listed in critical condition Thursday night at St. Francis.

Also in critical condition Thursday night at the hospital was J.K. Wofford, a 4-year-old girl.

In stable condition Thursday night at the hospital was Sanjuree Davis, a 2-year-old girl.

Jasmine Collins, 3, was discharged from the hospital Thursday.

The highway patrol said the mother had her seat belt on, but none of the four children in the car were wearing restraints.

The driver of the other vehicle, Kenneth Johnson, 48, of Lilbourn was listed in stable condition Thursday night at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

The patrol said the accident occurred when Johnson, traveling westbound in a pickup truck, made a left turn and struck the Collins' car, which was eastbound.

The infant was the 74th fatality in the patrol's Troop E area this year. Last year at this time there were 72 highway deaths in Troop E.

The fatality brought the state total to 922, 108 higher than last year at this time.