A 3-vehicle accident in West Plains Tuesday resulted in one fatality.
According to the West Plains Police Department, officers dispatched to a report of a three-vehicle accident including a motorcycle along State Route K at approximately 2:48 Tuesday afternoon.
Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle with moderate front-end damage stopped in the eastbound lane of traffic. A significant distance behind the vehicle was a deceased female authorities identified as 76-year-old Judy Kay Barnes. A third vehicle (an SUV) was found to be stopped in the westbound lane with extensive front-end damage, and all airbags deployed. A a moped was found to be laying on its side with extensive damage in front of them.
After investigating, it was determined the moped was traveling eastbound on State Route K when it entered the westbound lanes of traffic and made impact with the third vehicle traveling westbound. The driver attempted to avoid the collision by pulling to the far-right side and traveling off the roadway. Barnes was reportedly ejected from her moped. The report states the vehicle following directly behind Barnes struck her while she was lying in the roadway.
Witnesses state Barnes had entered the westbound lane and began swerving back into the eastbound lane appearing as if she were attempting to pass a vehicle. A short while later, she re-entered the westbound lane, colliding with the SUV.
Authorities state the Fairview School busses were re-routed to avoid the scene. State Route K was opend a few hours later. No other injuries were reported.
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