Woman killed, teen badly hurt in Mississippi County car accident

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- A Charleston, Mo., woman was killed after being ejected from her vehicle Saturday afternoon in Mississippi County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Melinda C. Larkins, 47, was traveling southbound on Highway 102, 12 miles south of East Prairie, when she drove off the right side of the road, overcorrected, drove off the left side of the road and struck a tree line. Larkins and a passenger, Tayler S. Smith, 17, of East Prairie were ejected from the vehicle.

Larkins was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:45 p.m. by Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker and transported to Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

Smith received serious injuries and was flown by helicopter to a Memphis, Tenn., hospital.

Neither Smith nor Larkins was wearing a seat belt, according to the patrol's report.

Pertinent address:

East Prairie, MO