Crash Claims Life of Mother, Two Toddlers

A mother and two toddlers died in a multi-vehicle crash in West Plains on May 25. Traffic on Highway 63 from State Route 17 to Old Business Highway 63 came to a standstill Wednesday afternoon as first responders worked furiously to extricate people trapped in crushed vehicles. 

The three fatalities were a mother and her two small children: Alexias Crider, 22, Aiden McDaniel, 2, and Brantley McDaniel, 1. Their vehicle was crushed underneath a semi-truck hauling cattle. A fourth occupant in the vehicle, another child, was removed alive from the wreck and transported to a Springfield hospital in critical condition, reads a press release from the West Plains Police Department. 

At 1:21 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, officers with the WPPD were dispatched for the multivehicle traffic crash located in the area of U.S. Highway 63 and State Route 17.

Upon arrival, officers found a semi-truck and trailer overturned onto a car. They also found an SUV with heavy damage in the intersection. It was later learned that the semi was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 63 and struck the SUV in the intersection before overturning onto the car containing Crider and the children, which was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 63.

The occupants of the semi had no visible injuries, according to West Plains Police. Two occupants of the SUV were transported to a local hospital for minor to moderate injuries. 

First responders reached out to private entities for the use of a large crane to help extricate the trapped victims, according to radio traffic of the accident. West Plains Police thanked the following private entities in a release last week for their cooperation: DRS Technologies, Armstrong Hardwood Products, West Plains Roofing, S & S Quarry, Adam's Construction, Animal Clinic of West Plains, Hughes Towing, Midway Towing, J & J Recovery Services, and Gentlemen Jim's Towing. 

Multiple agencies responded to the tragic scene to assist West Plains Police, including: Missouri State Highway Patrol, Howell County Sheriff's Office, West Plains Fire Department, Howell Rural Fire Department, Willow Springs Fire Department, and South Howell County Ambulance. 

With the cooperation of all the agencies, first responders were able to extract all the parties from the vehicles by approximately 3:30 p.m. 

How to Help

Accounts have been set up at Southern Bank and West Plains Bank & Trust Company to help the family. All of the donations will be distributed directly to the family to help cover funeral costs, reports the West Plains Chamber of Commerce. If you choose to donate at Southern Bank, please let them know to deposit money into the "funds account set up by John Adamson".