Two killed on ice-covered U.S. 63 bridge

Two Texas County residents were killed Sunday night in a wreck on an ice-covered U.S. 63 bridge five miles north of Cabool.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Patricia M. Wiest, 37, and Alex Grueter, 15, both of Cabool, were pronounced dead at the scene by Texas County Coroner Tom Whittaker. The driver of the vehicle, Aleena C. Kaltenberger, 15, of Cabool, was taken by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

According to the patrol, Kaltenberger was driving northbound around 7 p.m. when her 1991 Lexus lost control on Gardner Ford Bridge and skidded into the path of a southbound GMC U-Haul truck driven by Kimberly D. Haney, 46, of Houston. The patrol said the pickup struck the passenger side of the car. 

The patrol said all four persons involved in the accident were wearing seat belts. Haney was not injured.

The Cabool Fire Department assisted at the scene. Authorities said traffic flow was affected for some time.

The patrol said there have been 34 fatalities in Troop G this year compared to 26 at this time in 2013.