Serious Crash Closes Route 40 Monday Evening (UPDATE)

US Route 40 was closed from Outer Belt West at Effingham to Funkhouser Road due to a crash Monday evening.

The crash happened at 8:37pm approximately two miles west of Effingham. Illinois State Police report a SUV driven by 21-year-old Joshua Bobbitt of Effingham was traveling east while an ambulance driven by 34-year-old Krystal Garrett of Windsor was westbound. 

Bobbitt told authorities he was distracted from inside the vehicle and crossed the center line, striking the Garrett vehicle head-on. 

Both drivers, as well as a passenger in the Garrett vehicle, 53-year-old Steven Sherwood of Greenup, were transported to the hospital with what were termed non-life threatening injuries.

Bobbitt was cited for improper lane usage and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Both lanes of Route 40 were closed for approximately one hour during the crash investigation. Effingham Fire Department and Shumway Fire Protection District firefighters assisted at the scene.