FAYETTE CO., Ill. - A three-vehicle traffic crash on Interstate 70 in Fayette County has lead to the death of one of the people involved: a 40-year-old Altamont man.
The crash occurred early this morning, approximately 5:25 a.m. on I-7- about a mile west of St. Elmo, near milepost 75 in the westbound lanes of the interstate.
Illinois State Police in District 12 say that a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala being driven by Jeffery D. Beck, 40, of Altamont, and a white 2017 Freightliner truck with semi-trailer being driven by William K. Daume, 45, of Canton, Texas, were stopped in traffic on I-70 near milepost 75 (1 mile west of St. Elmo exit), when the driver of a white 2016 Dodge Ram van, Joshua M. Willis, 22, of Mansfield, Ohio, failed to reduce speed, and struck the rear of Beck's Impala.
Subsequently, the Impala struck the rear of the semi-trailer pulled by the Freightliner.
Beck was entrapped and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Fayette County Coroner.
Both occupants of the Dodge van (Willis and a passenger, Jack E. Rudolph Sr., 46, also of Mansfield, Ohio) were taken to St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, and were then transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Both the driver and passenger of the Freightliner (Daume and his passenger, Bobbi L. Gibbs, 53, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma) were treated on scene and released.
The van and the Impala were towed by Sperry's.
Willis was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.
The crash investigation continues by Illinois State Police District 12, Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Fayette County Coroner's Office.
The Interstate at this milepost area was down to one lane for several hours this morning while ISP worked the scene.
ISP said that no further details will be released.