MARION COUNTY –A one-vehicle crash Wednesday night on Interstate 57 has claimed the lives of three people, and sent two small children to a St. Louis area hospital with injuries.

According to Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon, just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, a passenger car traveling southbound on I-57 at a high rate of speed left the roadway for an unknown reason, crossed the right shoulder and ditch, ascended the embankment, and struck a tree in the west fence line.

The vehicle was occupied by three adults and two small children from Wisconsin and Mississippi. All three adults – one male driver and two female passengers — were killed immediately on impact.

The two small children were airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St Louis; one in stable condition, the other serious.

An initial investigation determined the group was traveling from Wisconsin to Mississippi and were relatives but not immediate family.

Cannon says contact has been made with family members and the initial notification made, but names and ages of those involved will not be released until Thursday morning.

Cannon has scheduled a forensic autopsy for Thursday in Urbana on the body of the driver to determine whether an unknown medical condition may have contributed to the crash.

Illinois State Police, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies, Illinois Department of Transportation, Kinmundy/Alma Fire & EMS, and Kocher Autobody and Towing all assisted at the scene, and Marion County ESDA assisted with traffic control.
Crouse Funeral Home is assisting the families with local arrangements.