Two area women seriously injured in U.S. 67 crashes, no fatalities reported

An accident that left a passenger car sandwiched between two semi trucks Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 67 South was the second serious accident in seven minutes on that stretch of road, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports.

The chain of events involved six vehicles and left two area women with serious injuries. No fatalities have been reported from these accidents.

The first crash occurred at 5:05 p.m. on U.S. 67, two miles south of U.S. 160 and involved three vehicles.

The highway patrol reports Adrienne Island, 34, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was operating a 2020 Dodge Durango northbound when it allegedly struck the rear of a 2011 Chrysler being driven by Joy E. Allen, 50, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Allen’s vehicle then allegedly was also struck in the rear by a 2005 Dodge Caravan being driven by Kathy A. Putman, 57, of Naylor.

Putman suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Island suffered moderate injuries, while her 16-year-old passenger from Naylor suffered minor injuries. Both were taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff hospital.

At 5:11 p.m., the highway patrol reports, Sydney R. George, 20, of Corning, Arkansas, was operating a 2015 Hyundai southbound when it struck the rear of a 2015 Volvo tractor-trailer being driven by Ross I. Hamilton, 48, of Ontario, Canada.

George’s Hyundai then allegedly was struck in the rear by a 2013 Freightliner tractor-trailer being driven by Ricardo M. Arvelo, 62, of Arlington, Texas.

The crashes involving the tractor-trailers occurred near the site of the original crash. The incident with the Hyundai is considered two separate crashes by the patrol, which determined the impact by the Freightliner was a separate incident.

George suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment.

Arvelo was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Both directions of U.S. 67 reportedly was closed while troopers investigated the crashes and reopened at about 8:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: In Wednesday coverage of this accident the Hyundai was incorrectly identified as a Honda.