HAMILTON CO., Ill.—Illinois State Police released information about a traffic crash very early this morning in Hamilton County that’s left a young Johnston City man seriously injured, and the passenger of the vehicle is missing.
The incident occurred on Route 14 at Hamilton County Road 675 East this morning (Friday, August 15, 2014, at 12:01 a.m.
According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, the driver of a white 2008 Ford F-150, Derek Smith, 18, of Johnston City, was eastbound on Route 14 at 675 East when, for unknown reasons, the pickup left the roadway to the right and struck multiple culverts on the south side of the roadway.
After striking the last culvert, the pickup rolled onto the passenger side and came to rest. Upon arrival by law enforcement officials, the passenger of the pickup, Andy Vaughan, also 18, of Carmi, fled from the scene on foot. A search of the area for Vaughan was unsuccessful. Smith was cited for Driving under the Influence of Alcohol. Additional charges against Smith and charges against Vaughan are pending.
Smith was transported from the crash scene by Air Evac to an area hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. The Ford F-150 pickup removed from the scene by J & R Towing of McLeansboro, Illinois. ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the Hamilton County Sheriff?s Department, McLeansboro Police Department, McLeansboro Fire Department, Hamilton County EMA, Harres Ambulance, Air Evac, and J & R Towing.