SALINE CO., Ill.—Authorities have confirmed the identity of the single fatality in a fiery crash this morning near Womble Road in Saline County.
The accident occurred between a minivan and a coal truck. The driver of the minivan was the fatality; she has been identified by Saline County Coroner Jerry Watson as Cheryl Shaffer, 61, from Rosiclare.
Shaffer was the mother of Cave-in-Rock resident Tina Williams.
Here’s Illinois State Police’s release on the accident:
According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, the driver of a 2014 Freightliner truck tractor/semi-trailer, James N. Certain, 41, of Equality, was southbound on Illinois Route 34, approximately a quarter-mile south of Womble Road in Saline County at approximately 5:57 A.M., when he observed animals on both sides of the roadway. Certain, attempting to avoid one of the animals, drove his vehicle into the northbound lane of Illinois Route 34. A 2007 Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Cheryl R. Shaffer, 61, of Rosiclare, was northbound on Illinois Route 34, and seeing the truck tractor driving in the northbound lane, moved into the southbound lane to avoid a crash. However, as Shaffer drove into the southbound lane, Certain also returned to the southbound lane, where both vehicles collided.
Shaffer was pronounced deceased at the traffic crash scene by the Saline County Coroner’s Office. Certain did not receive any injuries as a result of the crash. Vernell’s Towing of Marion, Illinois, removed the Freightliner truck tractor/semi-trailer, while Bishop’s Towing of Harrisburg, Illinois, removed the Chrysler Pacifica from the crash scene.
An ISP Crash Reconstruction Officer (C.R.O.) and an ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer (C.V.E.O.) have been
assigned to the crash investigation. In addition, ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff’s Department, Saline County EMS, Saline County Coroner’s Office, Carrier Mills Fire Department, and Illinois Department of Transportation (I.D.O.T.)
James N. Certain was cited for Improper Lane Usage.
Currently Illinois Route 34 is open at the traffic crash site; however, it was closed for approximately 4 hours during the traffic crash investigation.