Ava Wolfe, Jayden Butterfield Obituary, Death – A devastating car crash in southwest Missouri claimed the lives of four people on Friday night, including three young women who had recently graduated from high school.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m. on Highway 54 in Vernon County when a Toyota Corolla carrying five people collided with a GMC Terrain, which also had five occupants.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Toyota Corolla, driven by a 49-year-old, failed to stop at an intersection near Highway 54 and crashed into the GMC Terrain. The Corolla was carrying four passengers, aged 38, 18, 19, and 21, while the GMC Terrain, driven by a 38-year-old, had four additional passengers—a 39-year-old, two 16-year-olds, and an 18-year-old.
The collision was fatal for three young women in the Toyota Corolla, ages 18, 19, and 21. The 38-year-old driver of the GMC Terrain also lost their life due to the impact.
Local news station KSNF reported that the three young women were identified as Ava Wolfe, Jayden Butterfield, and Violet Corado. The Climax Springs School District confirmed that Wolfe and Butterfield had been employees of the district. The school district also revealed that the three women had been returning home from a basketball game when the accident occurred.
In addition to the four fatalities, multiple people sustained injuries. The 49-year-old driver and the 38-year-old passenger in the Toyota Corolla suffered serious injuries. The GMC Terrain’s 39-year-old passenger was also seriously hurt, while the two 16-year-olds and the 18-year-old sustained minor injuries.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, as the community mourns the tragic loss of the young victims.