A two-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in Howell County left several injured, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
Kaela A. Wheat, 28, of Willow Springs, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze westbound on Highway 14 10 miles west of West Plains when the vehicle was struck by a round hay bale that fell off of a trailer being towed by an eastbound 2019 Ford F-250 driven by Tanner S. Hoover, 25, of West Plains, patrol said.
Wheat and two male juvenile passengers – ages 3 and 10 – were transported by ambulance to Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains with minor injuries.
Wheat and the 10-year-old passenger were not wearing safety devices. The 3-year-old passenger and Hoover were. The Cruze was totaled.
Investigating the accident was Cpl. D. L. Nash.