Joplin Crash Leaves Kills 3 Brothers Ages 2,4 And 7

JOPLIN, MO — Three brothers ages 2, 4 and 7 were killed in a three-vehicle crash near Joplin and their mother and five people in another vehicle were hurt, authorities said.

The mother was driving her boys over a narrow highway bridge southeast of Joplin on Tuesday night when her SUV collided with a tractor-trailer that was driving toward them, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. A second SUV then smashed into the side of her SUV, the patrol said.

The patrol identified the victims as 2-year-old Isaac Verde, 4-year-old Benjamin Verde and 7-year-old Eric Verde from Neosho.

The crash happened on state Route 86.

The mother and four others injured were rushed to a Joplin hospital in ambulances. A sixth person was airlifted to the hospital. The tractor-trailer driver was not hurt.

Weather was not a factor in the crash, the patrol said.

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