Four hurt in three Cole County crashes

Four people were hurt Friday in three separate accidents in Cole County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Skyler C. England, 21, of Kansas City, was driving eastbound on U.S. 54 east of Highway 17 at 6:45 a.m. when his Chevrolet Impala ran off the road. It then struck a cable barrier, continued eastbound and collided with a ditch.

England, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Capital Region Medical Center, the patrol said.

At 1 p.m. Friday, William S. Drake, 59, of California, was driving eastbound on U.S. 50 East at Route U when his Chevrolet Silverado approached the rear of another Chevrolet Silverado as it was accelerating. Drake's vehicle then collided with the back of the other vehicle, the patrol reported.

The other driver, Victor M. Lovell, 81, of Centertown, was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He had been wearing a seatbelt.

At 4:32 p.m. Friday, Rebecca J. Weider, 47, of Jefferson City, was driving on Highway 179 when she attempted to merge onto U.S. 54 westbound. Her Hyundai Tucson then struck the rear of a Chevrolet Impala partially stopped in the road, the patrol reported.

Weider, who had been wearing a seatbelt, sustained minor injuries and did not seek medical treatment. The other driver, Grace L. Bertrand, 65, of Jefferson City, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken by private conveyance to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the patrol said.