Crash kills 3 after car goes airborne over Missouri hill, cops say

Three teens were killed after they were ejected from a car during a single-vehicle crash in rural Missouri, police say.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, near Jerico Springs. Five people were in the Toyota Scion that was being driven by 19-year-old Clay Palmer.

The car went airborne after Palmer “topped a hill,” patrol officers said. The vehicle went to the right side of the road and overturned, ejecting Palmer and three passengers.

Palmer and two of the passengers died at the scene. They were identified as 18-year-old Logan Meerkatz and 18-year-old Ryan Chick, according to highway patrol.

Bradley Kidwell, 18, was the only person in the car wearing a seat belt, officials said. He suffered serious injuries and the other passenger, 18-year-old Taylor Ranney, had moderate injuries. They were both taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield.

Officials said the Scion was totaled in the crash.

Jerico Springs is in western Missouri about 65 miles northwest from Springfield.

This story was originally published August 5, 2022 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Crash kills 3 after car goes airborne over Missouri hill, cops say."