Details Released on Crash in Effingham Involving Sheriff's Deputy

Illinois State Police have released details on a crash in late June in Effingham that involved an Effingham County sheriff's deputy.

The crash happened at 1:45pm on Saturday, June 27 at the intersection of Maple Street and Fayette Avenue. Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Solan was assisting Effingham city police in responding to a "shots fired" report and the lights and sirens were operating on his squad car when he entered the intersection southbound on Maple Street. 

A driver headed eastbound on Fayette, 78-year-old Marcella Koester of Effingham had a green light and proceeded into the intersection, not noticing the lights or sirens on the squad car, and the vehicles collided. The impact caused the squad car to spin and strike another vehicle at the intersection driven by 46-year-old Jody Hord of Effingham.

State police say the 48-year-old Solan was taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment of what were termed minor injuries. Neither of the other drivers was injured.

No citations were issued. As we reported earlier, the "shots fired" report to which Deputy Solan was responding turned out to be unfounded.