Three dead after crash in Phelps County

Three people died Sunday evening after a car crash in Phelps County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A semi-truck driver, 29-year-old Hardeep Singh from Stockton, California, was allegedly driving too fast for the conditions when he lost control of his truck on I-44. He crossed the median barrier, traveling into the eastbound lanes, and striking a Dodge Journey head-on.

The three people in the Dodge were pronounced dead at the scene. Mary Ensign, 85, Bonny Ranney, 57, and Mark Ranney, 58, were the people in the car. They were all from Rolla.

Authorities say the rain and wet roads were a factor in the deadly crash.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, these are the first three fatal accidents of December for Troop I. The crash brings the total number of fatalities in Troop I to 26.