CHAFFEE — Two Scott County residents were killed and four others injured in a four-vehicle crash Wednesday, Oct. 2, near Chaffee.

According to the state Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 4:40 p.m. on Highway 77, 3 miles south of Chaffee, as a northbound vehicle driven by Merle R. Hopper, 29, of Chaffee struck the rear of a northbound vehicle driven by Brandon Phillips, 33, of Oran, causing the vehicle Phillips was to strike a northbound freightliner operated by Darren R. Landewee, 53, of Chaffee. The freightliner then crossed the center line and was struck by a southbound vehicle driven by Debra S. Buell, 62, of Oran.

Hopper was pronounced dead at the scene by Scott Count Coroner Scott Branam at 5:24 p.m., and Buell was pronounced dead by Branam at 5:25 p.m. They were transported by Branam to Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.

Phillips received serious injuries and was flown by Lifeflight to a St. Louis hospital. His passengers, 34-year-old Dnae Phillips, Cash Phillips and Colt Phillips, ages unknown, all of Oran, sustained moderate injuries and were taken by Scott County Ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.