A Fairfield woman was taken to the hospital following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon on Illinois Highway 15 at County Road 2300 East east of Fairfield at the Merriam Crossroads. According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, the crash occurred at approximately 5:29 p.m. when a 2010 GMC Sierra driven by 68-year-old Rick A. Dye of Mt. Erie was traveling eastbound on Illinois 15 and began passing another vehicle near the intersection.
At the same time, a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox driven by 19-year-old Jayce M. Willett of Fairfield was stopped at the intersection and began turning westbound onto Illinois 15. The sheriff’s department reported Willett’s vehicle entered the path of Dye’s pickup. The pickup struck the Equinox and pushed it past the intersection before leaving the left side of the roadway and overturning, coming to rest on its top.
Willett was transported by Wayne County Ambulance Service to Fairfield Memorial Hospital. Dye refused medical treatment at the scene. A passenger in Willett’s vehicle, 18-year-old Alexis F. Pulley of Carmi, was also transported to Fairfield Memorial Hospital by Wayne County Ambulance personnel.
Fairfield Rural Fire Department also responded to the crash scene.
Rick Dye was cited for passing within 100 feet of an intersection.