LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
A fatal, two-vehicle accident at the intersection of State Route 1 and 1400 North resulted in a mass mobilization of emergency responders and the closure of the highway late Thursday, June 27.
Horizon Health, the Paris Fire Department and the Paris Community Fire Protection District arrived at the scene around 8:34 p.m. following a 911 call where an informant stated they had witnessed two automobiles hit head-on.
Evidence at the scene and information provided by witnesses led to initial reports indicating one vehicle was overturned in a ditch and some, but not all vehicle occupants had been ejected from their respective cars and onto the road. In total, three people were involved in the gruesome crash. Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett was summoned shortly after emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
Shane D. Hughes, 32, of Oakwood, Ill. was pronounced dead at the scene.
A report released by Barrett on Friday, June 28 detailed that a white 2003 Chevy Silverado truck driven by Hughes was traveling northbound when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound grey 2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV.
Hughes was ejected from the vehicle.
The southbound Hyundai Palisade SUV was overturned and left the roadway as Hughes’ truck continued to travel north for a short distance before coming to rest in the middle of the roadway.
The driver of the SUV declined medical treatment at the scene, however, a passenger accompanying Hughes in his truck was transported from the scene to Union Hospital. She is in stable condition.
Emergency personnel rerouted traffic from the highway for nearly two hours until approximately 10:30 p.m.
The accident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police, Edgar County Sheriff’s Department and the Edgar County Coroner.