A 4-year-old boy from Monticello was transferred Monday to University Hospital, Columbia, for treatment of a possible head injury - after he and six other Northeast Missouri residents were hurt in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. 54 in southern Cole County.
No condition report for Henry D. Mast was available early Monday evening from the Columbia hospital.
The Highway Patrol said the accident happened about 2 p.m., when a tire blew on the eastbound 1996 Ford E-350 driven by Dennis G. Abell, 57, Canton.
Abell lost control and the vehicle ran off the right side of the highway striking several trees before landing 15 yards down a slight embankment.
Kevin Wieberg, the Cole County EMS training supervisor, said the ambulance service originally expected four injuries, sending three ambulances and two supervisors to the accident south of Brazito, and about 1,800 feet north of United Road.
Although all seven were sent to the hospital for treatment - five to St. Mary's and two to Capital Regional Medical Center - Wieberg reported: "All patients on scene were classified with non-life threatening injuries."
He said the boy's possible head injury was detected at the hospital.
Otherwise, the patrol reported, everyone received minor injuries.
The patrol identified the victims as Abell; his wife, Eva S. Abell, 52, Canton; Daniel T. Mast, 30, Monticello; Esther A. Mast, 25, Monticello; and children Henry Mast, 4; Toby D. Mast, 2; and Miriam D. Mast, 1; all of Monticello.
The patrol said only Eva Abell and Miriam Mast were using seat belts at the time of the accident.