MARION CO., Ill. - A group of people from Indianapolis crashed south of Salem Thursday evening, sending one of their number to a children's hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries.
Illinois State Police out of District 12 in Effingham said the single-vehicle crash occurred at 6:18 p.m. Thursday evening, August 3.
Preliminary investigative details indicate a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer being driven by Marvin Otoniel Flores, 28, of Indianapolis, was traveling northbound in the passing lane of Interstate 57 near milepost 107 when for unknown reasons, Flores braked the vehicle. That caused him to lose control of the vehicle, which skidded off I-57 into the east ditch.
The vehicle then struck a tree off the interstate.
Flores was seriously injured and transported by air evac from the scene to St. Louis University Hospital.
A 17-year-old male passenger, also of Indy, was seriously injured and transported by air evac from the scene to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis.
Two other passengers, Wullinton Ruiz Oliva, 29, and Melbin Joel Tablada Flores, 26, both also of Indy, were transported from the scene to st. Mary's Hospital in Centralia.
Marvin Flores was cited for No Valid Driver's License and Improper Lane Usage.