An Illinois State Police trooper from rural Fairfield was injured early Monday morning when his patrol vehicle collided with the rear of a semi tractor-trailer in rural Clay County.
ISP Master Trooper, Joshua Kiefer of rural Fairfield was trapped in his patrol vehicle and had to be extricated by fire and rescue crews following the crash.
According to Illinois State Police, the collision occurred around 5:30 a.m. on U.S. Route 50 at Big Four Road.
Kiefer was initially transported to Clay County Hospital in Flora before being airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Joshua Kiefer is the younger brother of ISP Senior Master Trooper David Kiefer, also of rural Fairfield.
The driver of the semi was not injured, and his identity has not been released.
U.S. Route 50 was closed while Illinois State Police investigated the crash, with an accident reconstructionist called to the scene. The highway reopened at approximately 12:10 p.m.
Joshua Kiefer remains a patient at Deaconness Hospital in Evansville