Two girls die following Coles County crash
LOXA — Two girls from Mattoon were killed and six other people reported injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning in rural Coles County.
According to a state police report, Sandra Ross, 26, of Mattoon, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet van east on Illinois 316 just west of County Road 1100 E when she passed another vehicle also headed east on the highway at 9:02 a.m. Wednesday.
After she passed the second vehicle, she lost control of the van and entered the westbound lane of the highway, where she struck a westbound 1988 International semitrailer truck driven by Jordan F. Pollard, 20, of Charleston, police said.
The report said the truck made contact with the rear passenger side of the van, which overturned and landed in the ditch on the side of the road.
Seven of the eight occupants of the van were ejected from the vehicle, police said. Six of them were taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, while two of them were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers said that one of the passengers in the van, Tanisha Madigan, 12, of Mattoon, was pronounced dead at 9:29 a.m. Wednesday at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Schniers said an autopsy has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday in Springfield.
Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said that Harley Madigan, 15, of Mattoon, was pronounced dead at 12:02 p.m. Wednesday at Carle Foundation Hospital. No autopsy will be performed, he said.
Ross and four passengers in the van, Reda Wilson, 36, of Mattoon, an 8-year-old boy from Mattoon, a 2-year-old boy from Mattoon and a 3-year-old girl from Mattoon, were also taken to Sara Bush Lincoln Hospital. Their conditions were not available on Wednesday night.
The final occupant of the van, a 4-year-old boy from Mattoon, was treated at Carle Foundation Hospital. His condition was not available on Wednesday night.
The police report said that Pollard did not require any medical treatment.
Police said Ross was ticketed for improper lane usage, not wearing a seat belt, not having a valid driver’s license, driving an uninsured vehicle and speeding.
Sgt. Bill Emery of the state police said the crash is still under investigation.
Two "kids" from Mattoon were killed and six other people reported injured
The driver of the van they were riding in, was ticketed for improper lane usage, not wearing a seat belt, not having a valid driver’s license, driving an uninsured vehicle and speeding.
Wow..........what a shame she was behind the wheel
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