Published: August 28, 2009 01:53 pm      

Five hurt in interstate crash

OAKWOOD — Illinois State Police continue to investigate an interstate accident that injured five people Thursday evening.

The accident took place just after 5 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 74 near mile marker 205, about a mile west of Oakwood.

According to state police in Pesotum, a semi driven by Shannon Sovereign, 34, of Milford, Neb., was headed west in the interstate when it collided with the rear of a car driven by Benjamin Ogren, 61, of Indianapolis, that was pulling a U-haul trailer.

The collision then affected two other vehicles, a Jeep driven by Francine Rice, 38, of Fithian, and Carol Adams, 72, no address listed, state police reports indicated.

State police indicated all four drivers as well as another individual were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment. Sovereign and Ogren were treated and released, according to a Carle spokeswoman, however the hospital had no information available in regard to the other two drivers.

State police reports — which indicated one person suffered serious injuries — did not release the name of the fifth person injured in the accident. All of the drivers were wearing seat belts and none had to be extricated from their vehicles.

All four vehicles were towed from the scene of the accident.

State police are investigating what citations should be issued as a result of the crash.