The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a pair of crashes on U.S. Route 65 around 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17, both of which resulted in serious injury.

In Benton County, the Patrol responded to a one-vehicle crash just before 7 p.m. on U.S. Route 65 just north of the intersection with Route 7 south of Warsaw. Troopers report that a 55-year-old man was driving his vehicle north when another vehicle turned in front of him, causing him to run off the roadway and strike a sign. The driver was flown to a Springfield hospital, while his two passengers, ages 27 and 51, were both flown to a Columbia hospital. All three were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, according to troopers.

A one-vehicle crash in northern Pettis County, just after 7 p.m., resulted in serious injury to a Warsaw woman.  The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 65, north of the intersection with Route BB outside Longwood. According to the Patrol, the 60-year-old driver of a pickup was traveling at a high rate of speed when she lost control in a curve. Troopers say the truck went off the right side of the road and struck a rock bluff, causing the truck to overturn. The truck then struck a guardrail and came to rest in the southbound lanes. The woman was flown to a Kansas City area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Troopers say she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.