Three Kearney Teens Involved in Fatality Crash

Three people are dead, and three others went to the hospital after a Sunday morning crash in Atchison County on November 17. The crash involved three teens from Kearney.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 7:22 am on I-29 North, six miles north of Watson, Missouri.

A 29-year-old Bellevue, Nebraska man drove south into northbound traffic and struck a car head-on driven by 18-year-old Kole Cunningham of Kearney. The car continued south after the collision, traveled off the road, hit a bridge, and caught fire. Cunningham's vehicle traveled off the road as well, and flipped upside-down.

The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. 18-year-old Lucy Yeates of Kearney was also pronounced dead at the scene. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report indicates she was not wearing a seatbelt.

A second passenger in Cunningham's vehicle, 18-year-old Aubrey Yeates from Kearney, suffered serious injuries and was flown to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She was wearing a seatbelt.

A one-year-old boy in the Nebraska man's car suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Grape Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Include Safety In Your Plans For Labor Day Weekend

The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2024 Labor Day weekend. Whether you are on the water or on the road, it’s everyone's responsibility to travel safely and observe all Missouri laws.

In Missouri, 15 people died and 477 were injured in 1,058 traffic crashes over the 2023 Labor Day holiday.

The 2024 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 2, 2024.

In Missouri, 15 people died and 477 were injured in 1,058 traffic crashes over the 2023 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 9.5 minutes. Troopers arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend.

In 2023, there were 12 boating crashes which included zero fatalities and three injuries. No one drowned over last year's Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested 10 people for boating while intoxicated during last year's counting period.

The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. Troopers on the roadways will be enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists.

Never operate a vehicle or vessel while you are impaired. Alcohol affects your judgement, reaction time, vision, coordination, and comprehension. The movement of the boat, vibration and noise from the boat’s motor, sun, and wind are all boating stressors and enhance the effect of alcohol on your body. If alcohol is part of your water activities, drink responsibly, and never operate a vessel if you’ve consumed alcohol.

The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These emergency numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive whether you are in your boat or your car.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.