Carthage woman killed, seven people injured in collision north of Avilla

A Carthage woman was killed and seven people injured in a two-vehicle collision 10 a.m. today on County Road 80 six miles north of Avilla.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2010 Ford Edge driven by Destiny A. Jennings, 22, Carthage, failed to yield and pulled into the path of a 2011 Toyota Sienna driven by Dany M. Mendez, 27, Pittsburg, Kansas.

Jennings was pronounced dead at the scene by Jasper County Coroner James Harrison at 10:16 a.m.

A passenger in Jennings' vehicle, Christian J. Blevins, 23, Carthage, and a passenger in the Mendez vehicle, Alva Velazquez, 37, Pittsburg, were flown to Mercy Springfield with serious injuries. Another passenger in the Mendez vehicle, a 4-year-old girl was taken to Mercy Joplin then taken by ambulance to Mercy Springfield with serious injuries.

Mendez, a passenger in his vehicle, a 2-year-old girl, and two passengers in the Jennings vehicle, a 1-year-old girl and a baby boy were treated for minor injuries at Mercy Joplin.

The fatality was the 68th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.