Joplin, MO : Fatal car accident in Newton County still under investigation on Thursday, December, 28th 2017

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Thursday it was still investigating an accident that left three young children dead and six people injured in Newton County earlier this week.

Leticia Verde, 32, of Neosho, was driving with her three sons on Tuesday evening when they were struck by a tractor-trailer on Missouri Highway 86, two miles east of Stark City. The car was then struck by an SUV that was driving behind the tractor-trailer. Then the car ran off the road and overturned, according to the patrol.

The three brothers — Eric Verde, 7, Benjamin Verde, 4, and Isaac Verde, 2 — were pronounced dead at the scene, while the mother was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Joplin with moderate injuries. She was listed Thursday as stable, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Sgt. John Lueckenhoff, of the highway patrol, said law enforcement is still investigating the cause of the crash to determine if anyone was at fault or driving above the speed limit. He previously said all three drivers were breath-tested for alcohol at the scene, as required by state law, but none of the tests were positive.

Erika Gallardo, Verde’s sister-in-law, told the Globe in an interview that there are no words to express the tragedy. She said family and friends have found comfort and support in one another.

“We’re just here together and praying,” Gallardo said.

Although Gallardo, of Neosho, did not know the children well, she said she remembers them being “happy babies.”

No funeral arrangements for the boys had been made as of Thursday afternoon, according to Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, which is handling the services for the Verde family. Donations can be given to the funeral home on behalf of the family by mailing them to P.O. Box 66, Neosho, MO 64850.

Five occupants of the SUV, all of Fairview, also were injured in the collision: Shawna Campbell, Bentley Stephens and Darby Presley, age unavailable for all; Harley Stephens, 15; and Michael Stephens, 38. The tractor-trailer driver, Stephen J. Shaffer, 53, of Sarcoxie, was uninjured.

Lueckenhoff said Thursday that he couldn’t comment on the condition of the injured parties.

Globe staff writer Koby Levin contributed to this report.

Source :
Fatal car accident in Newton County still under investigation