Two Festus teenagers and one High Ridge teen were injured early today, May 29, in a UTV crash on Office Road south of Bookholtz Road near Goose Creek in St. Francois County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
At 12:25 a.m., Ava E. Croft, 18, of Festus was driving a southbound 2023 Polaris Ranger 570 which traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree, ejecting all occupants in the UTV, the report said.
Croft was seriously injured and taken by St. Francois County Ambulance to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Cour, the report said. A 16-year-old boy from Festus was moderately injured and a 17-year-old boy from High Ridge had minor injuries, and both were taken by St. Francois County Ambulance to the Children’s Hospital.
According to a hospital spokeswoman, Croft was treated and released.
The occupants were not wearing seat belts or state-approved safety devices, the report said, and the UTV was extensively damaged.