Wreck kills infant in Scott County

ORAN, Mo. -- The icy roads apparently were a factor in a three-car accident that resulted in the death of an infant and injuries to two adults, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

Five-month-old Sydnea Rhodes of Oran was pronounced dead at Southeast Missouri Hospital Wednesday morning. The patrol said that the baby was in a car seat.

Rhodes was being transported in a car being driven by Bobbi Schwepker, 29, when Schwepker lost control of the car on an ice-covered Highway 77, two miles south of Oran, the patrol said.

The car crossed the center line and was struck by a second vehicle driven by James Below of Sikeston, Mo. Schwepker's vehicle kept sliding crossways and was struck again by a third vehicle driven by Mary K. Vinson of Sikeston.

Schwepker was seriously injured in the accident and remained at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau Wednesday night. Vinson was moderately injured, but was taken to Southeast Hospital where she was treated and released. Below was not injured in the accident.