Three hurt in crash in front of Jefferson City middle school

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people suffered moderate injuries during a crash Wednesday morning outside Lewis and Clark Middle School.

The crash happened at about 7:30 a.m. when a Nissan Sentra driven by Xavier Thompson, 23, of Jefferson City, rear-ended a Hyundai Elantra driven by Tiffany Beene, also of Jefferson City, on Eastland Drive, police said. Police say Thompson did not notice the Hyundai slowing to make a left turn.

Police said traffic was diverted for about 30 minutes during the investigation and cleanup. The crash took place before the 8:50 a.m. start of classes at the school.

Thompson was not injured, but two passengers in the car -- Dale Kraus II, 43, and Kaitlyn Lamb, 23, both of Jefferson City -- suffered moderate injuries. An ambulance took Kraus to a Columbia hospital and Lamb was taken by private vehicle to a Columbia hospital, police said.

No one in the Nissan was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Beene suffered minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to a local hospital, police said. A passenger in her vehicle was not injured.