Two killed in accident near Carthage

Two women were killed in a head-on collision Thursday night just west of Carthage.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it happened around 7:30 p.m., when a car driven by 24-year-old Baylee Shorter, of Carthage, crossed the center line of Route HH and hit an SUV driven by 17-year-old Jessica Batie, of Joplin, head-on.

Shorter was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Batie was pronounced dead at the scene.

17-year-old Makayla Suter, of Joplin, was a passenger in Shorter’s car. She suffered serious injuries.

A 12-year-old girl from Joplin was a passenger in Batie’s vehicle. She suffered serious injuries.