Four members of a La Plata family and a couple from South Dakota sustained injuries when a pickup truck struck a sports utility vehicle two miles north of La Plata Thursday evening.
The Highway Patrol reports La Plata residents 13-year-old Elaine and 11-year-old Olivia Larson received moderate injuries and were transported by ambulance to the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. Eight-year-old Rachel and four-year-old Rebecca Larson received minor injuries and were transported by private vehicle to the Northeast Regional Medical Center.
Seventy-one-year-old Richard and 66-year-old Eileen Leir of Rapid City, South Dakota sustained what the Patrol called minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Kirksville. The driver of the SUV, 16-year-old Ben Larson of La Plata, was reported as not injured.
The SUV, a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, attempted to cross Highway 63 but failed to yield to the 2007 Dodge RAM pickup driven by Richard Leir.
Both drivers and all occupants involved wore safety devices. The SUV was totaled, and the truck received moderate damage.
The Patrol received assistance from the La Plata Police and Fire departments, Macon County Emergency Medical Services, Adair County Ambulance, and Sheriff’s Department as well as the Kirksville Fire Department.
