JAMESPORT, Mo. - Four miles outside the city limits of Jamesport, Mo., black tread marks and sparkling slivers of glass are all that remains of a fatal car accident.

The two-vehicle accident claimed three lives, sent four others to area hospitals and left this close-knit community in mourning.

"It's just devastating," said Ada Mae Gingerich. "The whole community is in shock."

Jamesport, Mo., residents Maria Hostetler, 40, Chester Gingerich, 48, and his son Perry Gingerich, 16, were all killed Tuesday night after the vehicle in which they were traveling struck a tire and wheel lying in the road. A grain truck ahead of Mrs. Hostetler's Dodge minivan lost its left rear tandem wheel. The driver, David Leeper, 51, managed to steer the truck to the shoulder of the road, but the minivan subsequently skidded, turned over and eventually landed on its top after striking the grain truck.

There were six people in the minivan. All but the driver were related and members of the Amish community in Jamesport.

Mrs. Gingerich, who is a distant relative and a Mennonite, visited the grieving Gingerich family Wednesday morning.

"They're numb," she said. "But when the Amish have a tragedy like this, helping hands come from everywhere. They really take care of their own."

Chester Gingerich was a well-known carpenter. His wife, Wilma Gingerich, 46, is in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at North Kansas City Hospital. The couple formerly owned and operated Countryside Bakery in Jamesport.

The couple's other son, Steven Gingerich, 20, and son-in-law, Calvin Beechy, 25, were also injured in the accident, as was Mr. Leeper. Mr. Beechy was taken by air ambulance to KU Medical Center in critical but stable condition.

The accident and deaths were the talk of the small tourism town. Bryan Carmenati, who knew the family and worked with them, just wonders how this sort of thing could happen and whether the 40-year-old grain truck was safe for the road.

"This could have been avoided," he said. "It's horrendous."

A funeral date hasn't been made public but many regular shoppers and Ada Mae Gingerich believe many Amish shops could be closed that day.

"I would think that it's appropriate for them so they can be with their family," said Betty Cemerstine, a regular customer at Jamesport.

She said she always admired the Amish and Mennonite community.

"They're such a respectable bunch," she said. "I can't imagine what this is doing to them."

Mrs. Gingerich said that typical Amish funerals take place at the family's home beginning with a visitation of the body in a bedroom or other private space. A funeral service is then held in a large shed or barn. The deceased is then laid to rest in an Amish cemetery just outside the simple streets of Jamesport.

Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.