Two killed in Cole County wreck


First responders and law enforcement personnel responded to the scene of a three-vehicle wreck at Route C and South Country Club Drive that killed two on Wednesday.
First responders and law enforcement personnel responded to the scene of a three-vehicle wreck at Route C and South Country Club Drive that killed two on Wednesday.

A double fatality, three-vehicle crash caused a major traffic tie-up southwest of Jefferson City about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Donald A. Edwards, 58, Russellville, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Joan D. Hamilton, 75, Lenexa, Kan., died at Capital Region Medical Center at 11:39 a.m.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported that Damien T. Bryan, 40, Jefferson City, was northbound in a 1981 Ford F-150 truck as he tried to cross Route C at the South Country Club Spur.

Troopers said Bryan failed to yield to Hamilton's eastbound 2004 Lexus, hitting her car in the passenger side.

It overturned and landed in the path of Edwards' westbound 1995 Chevrolet Blazer, hitting the Blazer on the front driver's side.

Bryan suffered only minor injuries and was treated at St. Mary's Health Center.

Troopers said all three drivers were wearing seat belts.

Route C was closed for nearly five hours, as a patrol accident reconstruction team investigated the collision. It reopened about 3:35 p.m.

The patrol did not report whether it would seek any charges.