Several area residents injured in accidents

Four area residents were injured Thursday – two of them seriously – in three separate traffic accidents.

According to Missouri Highway Patrol reports, Kimberly Kelley, 32, of Belgrade, received minor injuries when her 2006 Chevrolet struck the cable barrier of the median on Highway 144, eight miles west of Lebanon in Laclede County. Kelley was westbound at 9:10 a.m. when an unknown vehicle slowed suddenly in the roadway. Kelley, who was wearing a seat belt, swerved to avoid an accident and ran into the median, hitting the cable. She was taken by paramedics to St. John’s Medical Center in Lebanon.

Damage to the car was listed as total and it was towed from the scene.

Highway Patrol reports listed an accident at 9:42 p.m. on Old Cadet Road, .9 miles north of Route 47 in St. Francois County. Denise D. Hart, 35, of Bonne Terre was northbound on Old Cadet Road when she failed to negotiate a curve to the left. Her 1989 GMC S15 went off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Hart, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Barnes Hospital, according to reports.

Damage to the vehicle was listed as total and it was towed from the scene.

The third accident occurred at 11:30 p.m. in Ste. Genevieve County and involved two Ste. Genevieve residents on a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle, according to the Highway Patrol. Driver Brian D. Bauman, 44, and passenger Holly M. McClanahan, 33, were northbound on Fourth Street, north of Veterans Drive, when they traveled off the right side of the road. The motorcycle struck a wooden post, mailbox, landscape rocks and several plants before overturning, ejecting both riders.

Bauman received moderate injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Barnes Hospital. McClanahan received serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to St. Louis University Hospital. Both had been wearing safety equipment, according to the report.