HARPER ? Three students from Chaparral High School were killed Wednesday while driving to a nearby town to sell ads for the yearbook, authorities said.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victims as driver Leah Giesen, 16, and her two 15-year-old passengers, Morgan Elliott and Laura Arnet.

The girls, member of the volleyball team who lived in and around Anthony, received permission to leave the school about 1:30 p.m.

They were headed south on Kansas Highway 2 when their car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Kansas Department of Transportation dump truck.

The truck’s driver, Caroline Bock, 35, was transported to the hospital in serious condition.

“This type of accident with these types of injuries is a rarity down in these parts,” Lt. Randy Moon said.

The crash happened less than a mile south of the high school, which is located on Highway 2 between Harper and Anthony.

Keith Custer, superintendent of the Anthony-Harper School District, said a crisis team from Hutchinson will be at the school this morning to help the girls’ classmates cope with the tragedy.