Two people were injured, one critically, in a serious crash Tuesday afternoon east of Waltonville.
Authorities say the accident occurred on Illinois Route 148 near North Cherryville Lane, close to the Big Muddy River. Authorities say a passenger vehicle collided with a pickup truck, sustaining heavy damage before veering down an embankment and catching fire.
Emergency crews acted quickly, pulling the driver from the burning vehicle just moments before it became fully engulfed in flames. One person was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital with critical injuries, while another was transported by ambulance to a local medical facility.
Illinois Route 148 was temporarily closed as multiple agencies responded, including the Waltonville Fire Department, Jefferson County Fire Protection District, Mt. Vernon Fire Department, Woodlawn Fire Department, and Coello Fire Department, which provided a change-of-quarters assignment. Littons EMS, Air Evac Lifeteam, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also assisted at the scene.
No further details about the cause of the crash or the condition of those involved have been released. The investigation is ongoing.