Five injured in Friday wreck

A serious wreck occurred on U.S. Highway 54 east of Deerfield Friday evening. (Gabe Franklin/Daily Mail)

Five people were injured, three seriously, in a two-vehicle head-on collision on 54 Highway west of 900 Road at approximately 4:40 p.m. Friday afternoon.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol corporal J. E. Wilde, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Brandon King, 21, Nevada, was traveling east on 54 Highway during heavy rain when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2003 Toyota Tundra driven by Melvin Swopes, 89, El Dorado Springs.

Firefighters from Nevada Fire Department and Deerfield Fire Department used hydraulic rescue tools to free the occupants of the Chevrolet Silverado.

Brandon King was transported by ambulance to Nevada Regional Medical Center with serious injuries. Two passengers from the same vehicle were also seriously injured. Crystal King, 41, Nevada, was transported by ambulance to NRMC with serious injuries. Christopher Despain, 34, Nevada, was transported by ambulance to Freeman West hospital in Joplin with serious injuries.

Melvin Swopes was transported by ambulance to NRMC with moderate injuries. A passenger in the Toyota, Ricky Swopes, 65, Nevada, was also transported by ambulance to NRMC with moderate injuries.