One person killed in two-vehicle accident near Columbia

One person died following a two-vehicle accident in Boone County. The accident happened at around 6:40 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of Route B and Oakland Church Road north of Columbia.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers on scene told ABC 17 News a Ford Mustang was driving northbound on Route B and hit a Toyota Corolla going south.

The driver of the Mustang, 34-year-old Rene Lopez-Espinoza of Columbia, drifted off the right side of the road and overcorrected, causing him to lose control of the car and cross the center line. He was hit by the Corolla as he crossed the line.

Lopez-Espinoza of Columbia was killed at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla, 60-year-old Richard Nelson of Hallsville, suffered serious injuries and was taken to University Hospital. As of Thursday afternoon, Nelson was listed in fair condition.

The accident closed both directions of traffic on Route B, and law enforcement was diverting drivers to other routes.