Sturgeon man in critical condition following collision

COLUMBIA — Four Sturgeon residents, including three children, and a Mexico, Mo., woman were hospitalized Wednesday following a head-on collision involving four cars outside of Centralia.

One of the drivers, Michael Hughes, 28, of Sturgeon, was listed in critical condition Wednesday evening at University Hospital. There was no information available on the passengers, Aleah Hughes, 6, Laura Hughes, 7, and Aiden Hughes, 9 1/2 months.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision, Sarah Rodriguez, 29, of Mexico, Mo., was listed in fair condition at University Hospital.

At about 9:30 a.m., Hughes was driving southbound on Highway 124 and Rodriguez was driving northbound when both vehicles crossed the center line, colliding head-on, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report. The drivers of two other vehicles, Robert Crawford, 28, and Jennifer Dubes, 31, both of Centralia, were parked on the side of the road at the time of the accident to fix a flat tire. Both parked vehicles suffered minor collateral damage from the initial collision.

Dubes and a passenger, Emilee Dubes, 8 months, were treated at the scene and released, according to the report. Crawford was not injured.

The drivers and passengers in the vehicles that collided head-on were all wearing seat belts, according to the report.

Boone County Fire Protection District Division Chief Gale Blomenkamp said he didn’t think the crash was weather-related.