Update on June 16

The Illinois State Police, along with the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, have provided updates on the fatal accident that took place on U.S. Route 40 this past Sunday. They have also revealed the identity of the deceased driver.

According to the State Police, the incident occurred at 1075th Street at approximately 4:16 p.m. The collision involved a pickup truck and a minivan. Officials have stated that the truck, traveling eastward, veered across the center line for reasons yet unknown, resulting in a head-on collision with the minivan heading west.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle was declared dead at the scene. Coroner Kim Rhodes identified the deceased as 58-year-old Harland J. Neville from Altamont, and noted that an autopsy has been arranged.

Rhodes added that there were four family members inside the minivan, including three children. The woman driving the van was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana and the children were transported to HSHS St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham.

Route 40 was shut down for almost four hours while emergency personnel responded to the scene. The road reopened around 8 p.m.

The crash is still under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Effingham County Coroner’s Office.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — One person is dead and another was brought to a hospital after a crash in Effingham County on Sunday.

Kim Rhodes, Effingham County Coroner, said it happened on Route 40, west of Effingham. At this time, Rt. 40 remains closed from Country Club Road to Funkhouser Road.

Rhodes said she is working on notifying the next of kin. No further information is available at this time.