TWO KILLED, TWO HURT IN RIVER BRIDGE ACCIDENT

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Two Cape Girardeau residents died in a three-car crash early Saturday on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River Bridge, said Illinois State Police.

Authorities identified the victims as Vicki Lynn Davenport, 43, and David F. Saffold, 27. Davenport was a passenger in the car driven by Saffold.

The drivers of the other two cars also were injured, police said. Suffering injuries in the collision were Paul J. Chapman, 28, of Cape Girardeau, and Michael S. Eason, 22, of McClure.

Both were taken to Cape Girardeau hospitals. Chapman was treated and released at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Eason was treated and released at St. Francis Medical Center.

State Police said that the Saffold car, traveling east on the bridge, veered into the westbound lane and was struck by a passenger car driven by Chapman about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The Saffold car was then struck by the car driven by Eason.

The accident happened about a quarter-mile east of the Missouri-Illinois state line, police said.

Charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and not using a seat belt were filed against Chapman, police said.