Richland County Crash Kills One, Injures Six

One person was killed and six more were injured in a crash Friday night in Richland County.

State police report the driveshaft broke on a pickup truck driven by 42-year-old John Austin of Charleston while Austin was traveling south on Illinois Route 130, just north of Millers Grove Lane. That caused Austin to lose control of his vehicle, which slid sideways into the northbound lane, striking a van driven by 71-year-old Andrew Helmuth of Arthur on the middle driver's side. Austin's pickup truck came to a stop in the middle of the highway, while Helmuth's van ran off the roadway and overturned one time.

One of Helmuth's passengers, 50-year-old Verna Yoder of Arthur, was fatally injured in the crash. Richland County Coroner Randy Kistler pronounced Verna Yoder dead at the scene of the crash.

Austin and his passenger, 40-year-old Sarah C. Fields of Ashmore, both suffered minor injuries, while Helmuth suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for treatment. Three passengers in Helmuth's van, 54-year-old Howard Yoder and 22-year-old Velma Yoder, both of Arthur, and 21-year-old LaWayne Mast of Tuscola also suffered injuries and were all transported to Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

Austin was charged with Improper Lane Usage while Velma Yoder and LaWayne Mast were each charged with Failure to Wear a Seatbelt. The crash was reported at 7pm Friday.