Passersby pulled teens from burning trucks

LAWRENCE CO., Ill. - A couple of 17-year-olds learned the hard way yesterday that cars aren't something to "drive jokingly" and, unlike a video game, there is no reset button after a wreck.

Illinois State Police in District 12 report that the crash that occurred yesterday evening (Friday, June 13) at 5:47 p.m. happened just that way, and sent the two teen boys to out-of-area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries.

ISP said that a preliminary investigation shows a blue 2004 Chevrolet pickup being driven by a 17-year-old male from Sumner was southbound on Christy Avenue a half-mile south of Sumner (not far from Red Hills Raceway). A silver 2002 GMC pickup being driven by a 17-year-old male from Lawrenceville was northbound at the same location.

According to the 17-year-old male in the GMC, both drivers were acquaintances and "jokingly swerved at each other."

As the vehicles met, the Chevy struck the GMC on the driver's side door, forcing the truck off the roadway and into the east ditch. Both vehicles then caught on fire and quickly became fully engulfed. Passersby were able to remove both drivers from their vehicles.

The driver of the Chevy pickup was flown from the scene to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. The driver of the GMC pickup was transported via ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, then later transferred to Deaconess as well.

The driver of the Chevy sustained a fractured jaw, fractured tibia, facial lacerations and a severe concussion.

The driver of the GMC sustained a fractured leg and lacerations to both legs.

There have been no citations issued yet in the collision.