Two people airlifted from separate driving accidents
Three people were injured Tuesday afternoon in a two-car crash on Highway 56 North.
One victim, Maria Isabel Cuellas, 26, who was a passenger in a Dodge Caravan driven by Angel Ramirez, 36, was airlifted from the scene by LifeForce helicopter which made its landing in a field across from Delores’ Market. Ramirez was taken to River Park for treatment of non-critical injuries.
According to Highway Patrolman Gary Myers, the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. when a Honda Accord, driven by Aubrey Lee Mears Jr., 55, pulled from Old Smithville Road into the path of the Ramirez van which was traveling on Highway 56 North. The crash threw both cars onto the northbound shoulder.
Mears was taken to River Park for treatment of injuries.
The Highway 56 North crash came hours following a serious crash on Highway 70 near Rock Island which also saw a victim airlifted from the scene.
The victim, David Ray, 18, was thrown from his vehicle after he ran off the road and down an embankment just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Lawmen speculated he may have fallen to sleep at the wheel.