SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A wrong-way crash on James River Freeway early Friday morning has killed three people.

According to police, a truck was driving on the wrong side of the road when they ran head-on into an SUV carrying eight people. The crash occurred around 1 a.m. near the area of West Bypass and James River Freeway.

Three people in the SUV were killed, three are in critical but stable condition and two have minor injuries.

The three people killed were occupants in the SUV: Sharon Farmer, 69, of Pittsburg, Texas; Ukena Farmer, 45, of Dallas, Texas; Stephen Figgins, 61, of Missouri City, Texas.

Police say the driver of the truck may have been intoxicated.

The investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances involved in the crash. Anyone with any information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Springfield Police Department.

This was the third fatal crash in Springfield in 2023, which resulted in five deaths. 

Stay with OzarksFirst as we receive additional information on this story.