Neosho man’s pickup hits cow, leaves road, smashes into tree

There was an unforeseen encounter on the road for a Neosho resident early this morning [Tuesday].

The Highway Patrol says 37-year-old James Bettes was driving his 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 on Jasmine Drive about four miles east of Neosho around 7 a.m. when he struck a cow.

His pickup then went off the roadway and hit a tree.

Bettes was taken by ambulance to Freeman-Neosho Hospital.

Luckily, he suffered only minor injuries.