Pickup Truck Strikes Cycle South of Town

A local man was injured when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a pickup truck south of Effingham Monday afternoon.

The crash was reported at 2:11pm on US Route 45 at 970th Avenue. Authorities say the operator of the cycle, 51-year-old Paul Talbert of Effingham, was northbound and was slowing to turn into a private drive when the cycle was rear-ended. 

The driver of the pickup truck, 38-year-old Jerod Gale of Effingham, was not injured. Talbert suffered serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene to Carle Hospital in Urbana for treatment.

Gale was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid the crash.