Ten injured in North Callaway accident

This Missouri Military Academy van was one of two vehicles involved in an accident at U.S. 54 and County Road 148 Tuesday afternoon that sent at least eight people to University Hospital in Columbia. The MMA Boys Basketball team was on its way to district tournament games at North Callaway High School.
This Missouri Military Academy van was one of two vehicles involved in an accident at U.S. 54 and County Road 148 Tuesday afternoon that sent at least eight people to University Hospital in Columbia. The MMA Boys Basketball team was on its way to district tournament games at North Callaway High School.

Ten people were injured when two vehicles, including a van carrying teenagers to a district basketball tournament, collided on Tuesday in Callaway County.

The crash involving a Missouri Military Academy van occurred at 4 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 54 and County Road 148, the turnoff that leads to North Callaway High School where the tournament was scheduled to take place.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports the van driven southbound by Joseph R. Shafer, 28, Columbia, crossed the median of the four-lane highway onto eastbound U.S. 54 and failed to yield for an oncoming SUV driven eastbound by Kathy A. Williams, 40, Auxvasse.

Williams suffered serious injuries while her passenger - Ruby L. Keeling, 63, also of Auxvasse - received moderate injuries. They both were flown by air ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia.

Eight occupants from Mexico, Mo., in the MMA van were hurt while the driver was reportedly not injured. The injured were transported by ambulance to University Hospital.

Listed with moderate injuries were: Robert N. Olive, 50; Santiago Prieto, 18; Brendan Darnall, 17; and Vincent Burke, 15. Listed with minor injuries were: Rocardo Padilla, 17; Emelio Cueto, 16; Seven Priuster, 15, and Loya Lovsandorj, 14.

The patrol reports everyone injured had been wearing a seat belt.

The MMA Fighting Colonels were slated to play the Winfield Warriors in the boys basketball district games, with first rounds beginning at 4:30 p.m. The game was canceled following the accident.

Online:

Highway patrol crash report

Initial coverage, by Dean Asher, posted at 6:50 p.m., Feb. 19, 2013:

An accident at the junction of U.S. 54 and County Road 148 involving a Missouri Military Academy van headed to a district basketball tournament sent at least eight to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Callaway and Audrain county first responders were called to the scene at around 4:30 p.m., where an MMA van had collided with a gray SUV at the entrance to the county road that leads to North Callaway High School, where the tournament was scheduled to take place.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Cody Frame said that as of Tuesday evening an investigation was still underway and would not comment on the nature of the accident, but confirmed that it only involved the two vehicles and gave preliminary information on the number of injuries.

"Eight people were injured, and two were airlifted," said Frame, adding that anyone who is airlifted is in serious condition. "Everyone injured was transferred to University Hospital (in Columbia.)"

The Fighting Colonels were slated to play the Winfield Warriors in the Boys Basketball District games, with first rounds beginning at 4:30 p.m. The game was canceled following the accident.