CARMI, Ill. - Illinois State Police have released information on a three-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a Carmi man.
ISP District 19 said the wreck occurred last night (Tuesday, August 1) at 5:10 p.m.
At that approximate time, a blue 2017 Jeep Cherokee was traveling westbound on Illinois Highway 14 at the intersection with CR 900 E. in White County.
The driver of the Jeep, Paitton M. Powell, 20, stated she looked down momentarily and when she looked up, her vehicle collided with the rear end of a tan 2000 Chevrolet S10 pickup being driven by a 22-year-old male from Ridgway (in Gallatin County) that was traveling westbound in front of the Jeep and turning left onto CR 900 E.
The rear-end collision pushed the S10 into the eastbound lane, where it was struck in the passenger side of a blue 2005 Chevrolet Aveo being driven by a 60-year-old male from Carmi.
EMS services were requested and Powell was transported to Hamilton Memorial hospital by Herre Ambulance service in McLeansboro.
The driver and a passenger in the S10, a 20-year-old female, were transported by White County Ambulance service to landing zone 12 and landing zone 16 respectively where air Evac transported them to Deaconess Hospital Downtown in Evansville Indiana for treatment of their injuries.
The driver of Unit 3 was transported by White County Ambulance service to Hamilton memorial hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:58 p.m.
Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit, Carmi Police Department, White County Sheriff's Office, White County Ambulance Service, Herre Ambulance Service, Air Evac all responded to the scene. S&E Auto Salvage and Cherry Street Automotive removed the vehicles from the scene.
Powell was cited for following too closely.