One dead, two injured after collision on Route B

COLUMBIA — A two-car accident Thursday on Route B left one dead and two injured, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release.

Route B was shut down between U.S. 63 and Waco Road after emergency personnel responded to 911 calls at 4:11 p.m. Thursday. 

When Columbia firefighters arrived, they found the driver of a northbound 2000 Ford Taurus outside the vehicle. The driver Janet Bakos, 44, of Sacramento, Calif., was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Bakos had worn a seat belt, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

Firefighters found the passenger of the Taurus trapped in the car. After being extracted from the vehicle, Sadie Elliot, 71, of Columbia was transported to University Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, the police news release said.

Michael Ladd, 42, of Harrisonville, the driver of a southbound 2008 Chevrolet C3500 pickup truck, was found lying in in the grass alongside the road. Ladd had not been wearing a seat belt, according to the news release. Ladd was treated on the scene and then transported to University Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

The collision occurred after Ladd's pickup veered into the path of Bakos' vehicle, sideswiping the Taurus on the driver's side, the release said. Both vehicles then spun out of control.

Ladd and Elliot were in stable condition as of 8:50 p.m. Thursday, according to the release.