A Clifton Hill man suffered serious injuries in a crash involving three vehicles Wednesday, July 2 in western Audrain County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that the 34-year-old man had fallen asleep as he was driving his car west on Route 22 outside the Thompson community. At about 10:10 p.m., the car crossed the center line and struck an SUV driven by a 30-year-old woman from Mexico. A tire from the SUV came off and struck another eastbound vehicle.

The driver from Mexico had minor injuries, as did a nine-year-old girl in her vehicle. An eight-year-old in the SUV sustained serious injuries. All four were taken to a Columbia hospital for treatment. Troopers say that all three people in the SUV had their seat belts on, but they were unable to determine if the Clifton Hill man had his on at the time of the crash.