WHAT:                     Five Unit Personal Injury Traffic Crash

                       

WHERE:                   Interstate 74 eastbound at milepost 216, Vermillion County

 

WHEN:                      June 2, 2021 at approximately 9:41 p.m.      

                       

VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – 2006 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee

 

                                    Unit 2 – 2006 Silver Ford F150 with attached U-Haul Trailer with a small passenger car attached

 

                                    Unit 3 – 2013 Silver Toyota Sienna

 

                                    Unit 4 – 2006 Blue Ford Explorer XLT

 

                                    Unit 5 – 2017 Black Dodge Durango

 

DRIVER:                   Unit 1 – Joseph R. Cast, 42-year-old male of Fairmont, IL – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

                                    Unit 2 – Jennifer A. Scott, 63-year-old female of Seattle, WA – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

                                    Unit 3 – Kyle H. Kloepper, 36-year-old male of Champaign, IL

 

                                    Unit 4 – David P. Johnson 52-year-old male of Lincoln, NE – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

Unit 5 – Donald L. Blackmon, 50-year-old male of Bloomington, IL – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

PASSENGERS:         Unit 3 – Three juvenile children of Champaign, IL

 

                        Unit 4 – 17-year-old male of Lincoln, NE – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

Unit 5 – Tori AL Blackmon, 48-year-old female of Bloomington, IL – Transported to an area hospital with injuries

 

PRELIMINARY:      Preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred:  Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on Interstate 74 at milepost 216. Unit 1 left the roadway and struck the concrete barrier of the bridge located at this location causing Unit 1 to come to rest in the roadway. Unit 1 was struck by Unit 2 which caused Unit 2 to lose its trailer and attached vehicle on the trailer. Unit 2 trailer became detached and struck Unit 3 as it was attempting to slow and avoid the accident. Unit 4 was attempting to slow to avoid the accident as well and was struck by Unit 5. Unit 4 then struck the detached trailer of Unit 2 causing Unit 4 to overturn in the roadway before coming to rest on its driver’s side.

 

All eastbound lanes of the Interstate 74 at milepost 216 were closed for approximately two hours for the crash investigation.

 

CHARGES:              Unit 1 driver was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While License Suspended, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and Improper Lane Usage.