Columbia residents injured in three-car accident on Interstate 70

COLUMBIA — Four Columbia residents were involved in a three-car accident early Tuesday morning on Interstate 70 that left three people in serious condition, according to an accident report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The accident is suspected of having resulted from drunken driving

At about 2:25 a.m. Tuesday, Ramzi Melfrakes, 50; Eman Osman, 42; Noha Mavrakis, 19; and Halim Mavrakis, 13, all of Columbia, were in a vehicle driving eastbound on I-70 near the 147 mile marker in Callaway County, when their vehicle was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Amanda Cheely, 19, of Moberly, who was going the wrong way, the report states.

A vehicle driven by Brant Crabtree, 34, of Jefferson City, then struck the rear end of the vehicle driven by Melfrakes.

According to a highway patrol arrest report, Cheely was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, driving on the wrong side of the highway and five felony counts of vehicular assault. Lt. Darewin Clardy of Troop H of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said a reconstruction team with the highway patrol is investigating the accident.

The accident report states that Melfrakes, Cheely and Noha Mavrakis sustained serious injuries in the accident. Melfrakes was taken from the scene in an emergency helicopter. Crabtree and Halim Mavrakis sustained moderate injuries, and Osman suffered minor injuries. All six people were taken to University Hospital.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Crabtree, Osman and Noha Mavrakis had been released from the hospital, Cheely and Melfrakes remained in serious condition, and Halim Mavrakis was in fair condition, said Barbie Morgan, spokeswoman for University Hospital.

The four Columbia residents were wearing seat belts, Crabtree was not wearing a seat belt, and it is unknown if Cheely was wearing a seat belt, the report states.