Two Dead from Car and Truck Crash on Illinois 33 at East Edge of Effingham

A husband and wife have died as a result of injuries received in a car-truck collision Wednesday afternoon on the east edge of Effingham.

82-year-old Ronald Kyle of Shumway was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. His wife, 81-year-old Sally Kyle, was taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham where she died in the emergency department.

The preliminary investigation showed that a car driven by Ronald Kyle was traveling westbound on Illinois Route 33 in front of Effingham Monument Works and Woodlawn Cemetery when the car crossed the centerline and struck a pickup truck driven by 36-year-old Ryan Wendt of rural Effingham head-on. Wendt's pickup was towing a trailer loaded with personal items.

Ryan Wendt was injured in the crash and was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. According to Ryan's father, Don Wendt, Ryan underwent surgery late Wednesday night for severe leg injuries.

An autopsy on Ronald Kyle is slated for this morning at the Regional Autopsy Center in Champaign to determine the cause of death and whether a medical condition might have resulted in Kyle's car crossing the centerline.

Illinois State Police, Effingham County Sheriff's Department, Effingham City Police, Teutopolis Fire and Police Departments, and Abbott EMS all assisted at the scene. ISP and the Effingham County Coroner's Office are continuing an investigation into the crash, which had the highway closed for close to four hours.