A New Bloomfield man died Thursday after a head-on collision, and two Mokane residents are in serious condition at an area hospital.
About 6:25 p.m. Thursday Lori D. Conner, 53, of Mokane was driving south on Missouri Route CC, about 3.2 miles south of Route O. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol's preliminary accident report, Connor crossed the center line.
Justin McDonald, 27, of Mokane was driving north on Route CC at the time and swerved his 2002 Dodge Dakota into the southbound lane in an effort to avoid hitting Conner's 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis. At the same moment, Conner also made an effort to correct herself by pulling back into the southbound lane so the two vehicles collided near the center of the road, the highway patrol's report stated.
McDonald was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia for serious injuries.
His passenger, Chad M. Fleischmann, 27, of New Bloomfield was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:43 p.m. by Callaway County Medical Examiner Dori Burke, according to the report. Next of kin for Fleischmann has been notified, according to the report.
Conner was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia for serious injuries.
No one was wearing a seat belt, according to the highway patrol report.