Two Crashes w/Injuries Reported in County

Effingham County Sheriff's Department has reported on two crashes with injuries.

One crash occurred at 1:37am Saturday in Mason Township. The crash happened on I-57 northbound at the Edgewood interchange and involved the van hauling a number of cats and dogs we reported on over the weekend. 

Deputies report the vehicle slid on a patch of ice that fell from a semi and skidded out of control. The vehicle struck the rear of the semi and swerved to the shoulder, then left the roadway and drove down an embankment. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its passenger side. 

The animals were safely off-loaded and transported to local animal shelters.

The people in the vehicle were 31-year-old Cody Blair of Houston, Texas and 22-year-old Preston Meinhardt of Kingwood, Texas. Blair refused treatment, but Reinhardt was transported to HSHS St. Anthony's for treatment. 

No citations were issued.

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The other crash occurred this past Wednesday at 12:18pm on Illinois Route 33, just east of  2000th Street. 

Deputies report a vehicle driven by 57-year-old Kathleen Hunley of Olney ran off the highway and struck an embankment. The vehicle then overturned and came to a stop laying on the driver's side.

Hunley was injured, as were two passengers, 55-year-old David Angle and 77-year-old Ruth Harmon, both of Olney. All three were taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Effingham.

No citations were issued.