2 seriously injured in I-70 crash near U.S. 63

An accident on westbound I-70 Drive Southwest at about 3:45 p.m. Thursday trapped two people in their vehicle, taking rescue crews about 18 minutes to extract them. The vehicle's occupants were sent to University Hospital with life-threatening injuries. As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, one was in surgery and one was being transferred to the ICU.   ¦  COURTESY OF COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT

COLUMBIA — At about 3:45 p.m. Thursday, a gray Toyota Avalon traveling west on Interstate 70 lost control near the U.S. 63 connector and smashed through the guardrail, according to a news release from the Columbia Fire Department.

The car's driver, Sima Ursu, 57, and one passenger, Felika Ursu, 55, both of Lakewood, Ohio, were seriously injured in the accident, the release stated. According to the release, both were wearing their seat belts.

When rescue crews arrived, the two occupants were trapped in the vehicle, according to the release. It took rescuers about 18 minutes to free the occupants, who were then transported to University Hospital with life-threatening injuries, the release stated.

As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sima Ursu was in surgery and in unknown condition, according to a Columbia Police Department news release, and Felika Ursu was being transferred to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

The cause of the accident is unknown, the Police Department's release stated.