SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Four Mormon missionaries are recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car accident in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, an LDS Church spokesman announced Saturday.

Two of the missionaries are from Ghana and two are from Utah. They were traveling in a van with another church member when it was struck by a truck on a highway. The truck driver died.

Two of the missionaries sustained severe injuries and were airlifted to a hospital in Ghana, said Eric Hawkins, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Here is the entire statement released by the church:

"On Wednesday, August 24th, four missionaries and one member from the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission in Africa were involved in a serious vehicle accident. Their van was hit by another vehicle, which was attempting to pass a truck on the highway. Tragically, the driver of that vehicle died in the accident. We pray for his family and loved ones as they mourn their loss.

"Each of the people in the mission van received injuries, some quite severe. Two of the missionaries have been transported by air ambulance to Ghana for more extensive care. Two are recovering in a hospital in Sierra Leone, and one has been released and is recovering well.

"Medical advisors from Church headquarters and the local area have been closely involved in their care since the accident occurred and will continue to work with the medical teams that are caring for them. The names of those involved are as follows:

• Elder Luke P. Dunn from Salt Lake City, Utah

• Elder Augustine Biney-Amissah from Breman Asikuma, Ghana

• Elder Nicklaus M. Spaulding from Nibley, Utah

• Elder Isaac Boateng from Moree, Ghana

• Brother Marcus Wallace from Sierra Leone

"We request the prayers and faith of all in behalf of these missionaries and their families."

Email: twalch@deseretnews.com