LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mo — Early Wednesday morning, five people were injured, four seriously, following a multi-vehicle collision inside a construction zone on U.S. Highway 65 in Livingston County.

The crash occurred just after 9 a.m., about three miles south of Chillicothe, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials reported. The incident took place on the southbound lanes of Highway 65 within an active construction zone, where traffic was temporarily slowed and stopped.

According to the patrol, an SUV driven by a 41-year-old Albany woman and a van operated by a 38-year-old woman from Danville, Kentucky, were stopped in the construction zone when they were rear-ended by a van driven by a 51-year-old Chillicothe woman.

The impact caused the Kentucky van to spin counterclockwise, colliding with the rear driver’s side door of the Chillicothe van before veering off the east side of the highway and coming to rest off the roadway.

The Chillicothe woman, along with three passengers from the Kentucky van, suffered serious injuries. The injured passengers included a woman of an unknown age, a one-year-old girl, and an infant girl, all from Stanford, Kentucky. Additionally, a 30-year-old man from Stanford sustained moderate injuries.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and transported the four seriously injured individuals to hospitals in Kansas City for specialized treatment. The man with moderate injuries was taken to Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash but remind motorists to exercise caution and obey posted speed limits in construction zones to prevent such accidents.

“This morning’s crash highlights the dangers drivers face when navigating construction zones,” said a spokesperson from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “We urge everyone to remain alert and drive carefully to keep themselves and others safe.”

Construction zones can often create challenging driving conditions due to lane shifts, reduced speed limits, and traffic congestion. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) continues to work on improving infrastructure along Highway 65 to enhance safety for all road users.

Originally reported by Colin Schowe in KMZU.