The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop A responded to a pair of injury crashes in our area early in the weekend.

Troopers first responded to a crash in Benton County around 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.  The Patrol says a pickup driven by a 31-year-old man from Warrensburg was heading north on U.S. Route 65, when at the intersection with Cedar Gate Drive, the pickup went off the right side of the road. The vehicle then struck a mailbox and embankment before colliding with guide wires. The driver suffered minor injuries, while a 30-year-old woman from Independence had moderate injuries. Both were taken to area hospitals. Troopers say neither person was wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash.

The Patrol then responded early Saturday morning to a crash along westbound Interstate 70 in Lafayette County.  Troopers report that a 49-year-old driver from North Carolina was near the 45 mile marker, when just before 5 a.m., he attempted to swerve his vehicle to avoid a small animal in the roadway. The vehicle went into the median and struck some sand barrels before returning to the roadway, where the car then skidded and slid before hitting the concrete divider. The driver sustained minor injury, while a 67-year-old woman in the car suffered moderate injury. The two were taken to a Kansas City area hospital. Troopers note that the two were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.