Smithton, IL : 2 killed in head-on crash in Metro East on Wednesday morning , June 17 , 2015

Two people died in a head-on crash Wednesday morning on Highway 159 between Belleville and Smithton.

The Illinois State Police said the cars collided at about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday near Mulligan Lane. Killed were the drivers of the vehicles — a woman, 58, from Freeburg and a man, 88, from Smithton. A passenger in each vehicle was also injured. The driver of a third vehicle that was struck was not hurt.

The 58-year-old woman was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus north on Route 159 when she lost control and crossed the center line, according to the Illinois State Police. The Taurus hit the driver's side of a southbound 2011 Chevrolet before slamming head-on into a southbound 2008 Kia driven by the 88-year-old Smithton man.

The drivers of the Taurus and the Kia were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Kia, an 87-year-old woman from Smithton, was taken to a St. Louis hospital by helicopter. Her injuries were described as life-threatening.

A passenger in the Taurus, a 29-year-old man from Belleville, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet, a 70-year-old woman from Belleville, was not injured.

Authorities did not release the names of anyone involved in the crash.

Source :
2 killed in head-on crash in Metro East