Three little boys _ ages 2, 4 and 7 _ were killed Tuesday night in a three-vehicle crash in southwest Missouri.
The three, believed to be brothers, were riding in a Chevrolet Traverse driven by their mother, Leticia Verde, 32, the Missouri Highway Patrol said, and were westbound on Missouri 86 in Newton County when the vehicle was struck by an eastbound tractor-trailer.
She lost control and crossed the center line, when her vehicle was struck by a Chevrolet Tahoe that also was eastbound. The Traverse ran off the road and overturned.
The three boys, Isaac Verde, 2; Benjamin Verde, 4; and Eric Verde, 7, of Neosho, were all pronounced dead at the scene after the crash, which happened at 6:40 p.m., about 30 miles southeast from Joplin.
Leticia Verde suffered moderate injuries.
One of the boys was not wearing a seat belt.
In the Tahoe, the driver and four passengers all suffered serious injuries. Their ages and conditions were not available. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.
