© Nima Shaffe/KCTV5CLAYCOMO, MO (KCTV) -
Two women are battling for their lives at area hospitals after their car was struck by a wrong-way driver, Missouri Highway Patrol officials said Wednesday morning.
The driver of the black car was traveling south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 435. The driver hit the silver car about 1,000 feet from the exit to the Ford plant in Claycomo.
Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Cool said the women's injuries "are that bad" as a result of the head-on crash.
Kayla L. Wiechmann, 26, was taken to Liberty Hospital. Krissamarie L. Wiechmann, 22, was taken to North Kansas City Hospital. Both women are from Nashville.
The older woman is in extremely critical condition. The younger woman is showing signs of improvement.
The wrong-way driver suffered internal bleeding and his injuries are considered serious, Cool said. Rory S. Liberty, 33, of Kansas City, had traveled at least 3 miles in the wrong direction. After receiving multiple calls, officers were responding to the area but couldn't get there in time to prevent the crash.
The crash happened about 1:45 a.m. The highway reopened before 6:30 a.m. Troopers are investigating whether the man got on the highway at Missouri 152.
Troopers are investigating whether alcohol played a role and waiting on test results before sending the case to prosecutors. Liberty is in the hospital, but is under arrest.
Krissamarie L. Wiechmann owned the silver vehicle.
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