Four Hurt in I-57 Crash Near Marion

Two people were hurt - at least one of them seriously - after an accident on Interstate 57 in Williamson County.

Illinois State Police say the crash happened just before 1 pm Wednesday near mile post 51. Police say 32-year-old Daniel Corke of St. Genevieve, Missouri was driving a Mercedes ambulance northbound, and had to stop because vehicles in front of him had stopped due to another minor accident. The ambulance was struck in the rear by a vehicle driven by 28-year-old David Smithson of Turrell, Arkansas. Both vehicles were in the right-hand lane. 

Both men were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries, with police saying Smithson's injuries were serious, requiring him to be flown by helicopter to a regional hospital some time later. Two passengers in the ambulance, 39-year-old Charles Herman of Goreville, and 94-year-old Fred Moallankamp of Olmsted, were also injured. Moallankamp was flown from the scene by helicopter to a regional hospital for treatment, while Herman was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

The northbound lanes of I-57 were closed for about 45 minutes while Moallankamp was loaded into the helicopter. The left lane of the interstate re-opened while the crash was being investigated, and normal traffic flow was restored about 2:45 pm.