TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED, THREE MODERATELY INJURED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI CRASHES

Two people were seriously injured and three others sustained moderate injuries in two separate accidents Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Clara Underwood, 68, and Elvis Underwood, 67, both of Cape Girardeau, received serious injuries in an accident on Highway 34 five miles east of Marble Hill. The accident occurred at 9:50 p.m. Friday.

The driver of the other vehicle, Amber Ziller, 16, of Chaffee sustained moderate injuries. All three were taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Christopher Slinkard, 21, was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Elvis Underwood. He had minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when Ziller's vehicle was attempting to make a right turn onto Highway 34 from a county road and failed to yield to the Underwood vehicle.

The other accident occurred on Highway 61, one-half mile south of Fruitland at 6:15 a.m. Saturday. Sustaining moderate injuries were driver Don Frederick, 38, of Cape Girardeau and his passenger, Jackie Wilda, 29, of Cape Girardeau. Both were taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The other vehicle was a dump truck. The driver, Nathan Hunt, 26, of Altenburg was not injured.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as the Frederick vehicle slid into the path of the Hunt vehicle.