Two killed, four injured in four-vehicle crash in Scott County

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Two Scott County residents were killed and four others injured in a four-vehicle crash Wednesday, Oct. 2 near Chaffee.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 4:40 p.m. on Highway 77, three miles south of Chaffee, as the northbound vehicle driven by Merle R. Hopper, 29, of Chaffee struck the rear of the northbound vehicle driven by Brandon Phillips, 33, of Oran, Missouri, causing Phillips’ vehicle to strike the northbound freightliner operated by Darren R. Landewee, 53, of Chaffee. The freightliner then the crossed the center line and was struck by the southbound vehicle driven by Debra S. Buell, 62, of Oran.

Hopper was pronounced dead at the scene by Scott Count Coroner Scott Branam at 5:24 p.m., and Buell was pronounced dead by Branam at 5:25 p.m. They were transported by Branam to Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.

Phillips received serous injuries and was flown by Lifeflight to a St. Louis hospital. His passengers, 34-year-old Dnae Phillips and Cash Phillips and Colt Phillips, ages unknown, all of Oran, sustained moderate injuries and were taken by Scott County Ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.