Published on December 9, 2025 2:31 pm
Last Updated on December 9, 2025 2:31 pm
Details have been released on a two-vehicle crash Friday at US Route 40 and Illinois Route 128, west of Altamont.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened at 3:22pm. A vehicle driven by 48-year-old Dian Welch of Decatur was southbound on Route 128 and stopped at the intersection with Route 40. According to a witness, Welch’s vehicle came to a brief stop, then continued into the intersection, where Welch collided with a vehicle driven by 63-year-old Steven Kopplin of Altamont. After colliding with Welch, Kopplin continued east before leaving the highway and coming to rest in a cornfield on the south side of Route 40.
Kopplin and Welch were both injured. Kopplin was airlifted from the scene to Carle Hospital in Urbana. Welch was transported to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
Welch was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.
