Three People Checked for Injuries After Crash on Interstate Tuesday Afternoon

Three people were checked for injuries following a two-vehicle crash on I-70 near Effingham Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened at 4:35pm when the rear passenger side tire blew out on a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Damon McLendon of O'Fallon. State police report McLendon had moved into the right eastbound lane to pass a vehicle.

Following the blowout, McLendon lost control of his vehicle and spun into the path of a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Andrew Meyers of Altamont and then struck the Meyers vehicle.

The crash happened just west of the south trilevel. 

Meyers was transported by ambulance to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham. Both McLendon and his passenger, 18-year-old Jaedyn Smith of O'Fallon, refused medical attention.

Meyers is an Effingham City Police officer. Police Chief Jason McFarland said Meyers was traveling to Effingham to begin his shift, but was not on duty at the time of the crash.