Two injured in three-vehicle crash involving semi, TV-20 vehicle

Two people, including the driver of a WICS Channel 20 vehicle, were taken to the hospital after a three-vehicle crash involving a semi tractor-trailer that shut down a part of Jefferson Street/Illinois 97 Tuesday afternoon.

The names of the two injured drivers were not immediately released. A representative from the TV station also declined to release their driver's identity.

Illinois State Police said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening. Both victims were taken to St. John's Hospital.

The semi was headed east on Illinois 97 near Bradfordton Road shortly before 1 p.m. when it rear-ended the WICS vehicle, police said. The semi driver, who wasn't immediately identified, briefly took his or her eyes off the road and was unable to stop before the crash, authorities said.

The impact caused the news vehicle to spin into another lane, where a westbound vehicle struck it. The driver of the westbound vehicle was the other person taken to the hospital, police said.

Both cars had to be towed, police said.

Jefferson Street/Illinois 97 between Bradfordton Road and Veterans Parkway reopened shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The State Journal-Register

www.sj-r.com

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 4:27 p.m.