Small Town News

Driver, 4 passengers sent to hospitals following wreck

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Four Mattoon residents and a man from Harristown were transported to area hospitals for treatment of injuries sustained early Monday morning in a single vehicle accident on U.S. 36 at Moultrie County 1200 west of Pier-son Station.

According to an accident report from Illinois State Police District 10, alcohol was involved in the accident that occurred at 3:14 a.m.

They were traveling east-bound on U.S. 36 in a 2000 Dodge Caravan when the ve-. hicle hit a patch of ice on the highway. The driver, Kevin Peach, 19, of Mattoon lost control of the minivan and drove across the westbound lane and into the ditch on the north side of the highway.

The vehicle flipped over at least once, and Peach, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the Caravan. He was transported to St. Mary's Hospital and later was air-lifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana.

Passengers in the vehicle were Samantha Wilkin, 21; Ryan Keilbasa, 17; and Blythe Lave, 16, all of Mattoon; and Jacob Miller, 20 of Harristown.

Wilkin and Keilbasa were transported to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. Lave and Miller were transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur. All four passengers wore seat belts and were not ejected from the vehicle.

Peach was issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, illegal consumption of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, and failure to wear a seat belt.

Three passengers were also issued citations for illegal consumption of alcohol. The report did not give the names of the passengers receiving the citations.

According to the report, the occupants of the vehicle were transported to hospitals by Lovington Ambulance Service. The Dodge Caravan was removed from the scene by Arcola Auto Tech.



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