Illinois State Police and the Edgar County Coroner have released some of the names of those involved in a head-on collision near Paris Sunday.
Trooper Tracy Lillard says one of the drivers who was pronounced dead at the scene is 78-year-old Beverly Whitkanack of Paris. The other driver was air-lifted from the scene and taken to a hospital for treatment. She is 39-year-old Carrie Collier of Paris.
State Police say there were two children traveling in the Whitkanack vehicle who were injured. They are a 6-year-old and a 15-year-old, both from Terre Haute. Their names have not been released.
The head-on collision occurred along U.S. route 150, just west of Edgar County Road 2100 E near Paris at 1:52 p.m.
Trooper Lillard says the preliminary investigation found Collier’s passenger car was traveling westbound along the highway. The Whitkanack minivan was traveling eastbound. State Police say it appears Collier’s vehicle crossed the center line for some unknown reason and collided head-on with the minivan.
State Police add both drivers were wearing their seat belts, and both juveniles were properly restrained with child restraint and/or seat belts in the back seat. Airbags also deployed in both vehicles.
Charges are pending as the investigation continues.
