Four hurt in pair of US 54 crashes

Four people were injured in two separate wrecks that tied up Jefferson City traffic along U.S. 54 Wednesday morning. Traffic that was backed up during the first crash contributed to the cause of the second.

Jefferson City officers responded at 7:13 a.m. to a one-vehicle crash in the 1300 block of westbound U.S. 54 near Stadium Boulevard.

Police report Oshunta Brooks, 16, of Jefferson City, was driving a car that was cut off by an unknown vehicle. Brooks tried to swerve to avoid a collision but hit a curb, overcorrected and crashed into a guardrail.

Brooks, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. 

Officers were called at 7:36 a.m. to a three-vehicle wreck in the 1000 block of westbound U.S. 54 on the overpass above Missouri Boulevard.

Police report a car driven by Grace McGennis, 18, of Holts Summit, was traveling westbound when she came upon stopped traffic due to the earlier crash. The driver tried to slow down but ran into the rear of a car driven by Anna Kruse, 17, of Holts Summit.

Kruse's car was pushed forward into the rear of a third car driven by Lori Antweiler, 42, of New Bloomfield. Neither Kruse nor a passenger in her car sustained any injuries, police report.

McGennis was injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Antweiler and a 14-year-old passenger in her vehicle, Sydney Dunmire of New Bloomfield, also were injured. Police said all occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the wreck.