LAWRENCE CO.—There were no life-threatening injuries following a crash last night (Friday, 11.02.12) on U.S. Highway 50 outside Lawrenceville, but two drivers were sent to the local hospital.
According to Illinois State Police District 12, traffic was backed up for miles and for hours following a two-car collision that occurred at 6:42 p.m. last night on 50 a half-mile west of Lawrenceville.
The driver of the first car, Jami Renae Thomas, 23, of Terre Haute, Ind., was in a 2008 Ford Taurus traveling westbound on 50 in the wrong direction…something that can easily happen in that area if a person isn’t familiar with it, as the highway set-up there is somewhat confusing.
The driver of the second car, a 2004 Grand Prix driven by Joshua L. Butterick, 34, of Olney, saw Thomas headed toward him in the wrong lane and swerved to the left to miss her. However, Thomas at the same time swerved ot the right, and the two craashed head-on in the westbound lane.
Thomas and Butterick, who were both wearing their seatbelts, were transported to Lawrence County Hospital with injuries classified by ISP as “type A.” A passenger in Thomas’ vehicle, Brett M. Brown, 24, was also transported and also wearing a seatbelt, but he was reported to have had no injuries.
Thomas was cited for Improper Lane Usage, according to ISP.