Two local children killed in crash

Two young siblings from Desloge were tragically killed in a four-fatality, four-vehicle crash in Franklin County on Friday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck happened at 1:27 p.m. on Friday on Highway 47 north of Neade Farm Road.

The report indicates three of the vehicles were traveling south on Highway 47, with the fourth, a 2010 Kenworth tractor trailer rig headed northbound. According to the patrol, a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by Michael T. DeClue, 58, of DeSoto, veered across the road and into the path of the oncoming tractor trailer and struck the big rig head on.

The Kenworth, driven by Derek A. Eoff, 46, of Belle, Mo., went off the right side of the roadway. DeClue’s car reportedly spun around and struck the left side of a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze being driven by Adriah L. Weston, 25, of Marthasville, Mo., pushing her car off the left side of the roadway.

The third vehicle, a 2014 Volvo large truck being driven by Timothy D. Reed, 52, of Ozark, Mo., was struck by debris from the Kenworth.

Declue was killed along with three passengers in his car, including 78-year-old Catherine A. Mesey, of DeSoto, and 4-year-old Alayah L Pratt and 5-year-old Isaac D. Pratt, both of Desloge. All were pronounced at the scene.

The children were reportedly wearing proper safety restraints at the time of the crash.