A small aircraft crashed Thursday near Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, tragically claiming the lives of two individuals and leaving another with severe injuries. The incident occurred in a wooded area shortly after the plane departed from Grand Glaize Airport in Osage Beach.

Authorities identified the deceased as 22-year-old Hayden Ritchhart from Carrollton, Missouri, and 19-year-old Evan Vandiver from Richmond, Missouri. Gary Vandiver, 54, also from Richmond, sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Around midday, a motorist witnessed the plane seemingly in distress and immediately contacted emergency services. First responders located the wreckage near a tree. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.