Du Quoin Teacher and Son Injured in Galatia Motorcycle Accident

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Du Quoin art/industrial arts teacher and golf coach Steve Imhoff and son Luke are in stable condition after both were injured in a motorcycle accident on Rt. 34 between Galatia and Harrisburg Wednesday.

The Saline County Sheriff's Department described the accident as a "passing and braking" accident involving a farm tractor and plow along Rt. 34. At the outset, sources in Saline County believed the accident had happened at a treacherous intersection known as Rt. 35 and Harco Road. That is not the case.

A Detective Jones in the Saline County Sheriff's Department said the accident happened on an open stretch of Rt. 34 at about 3 p.m. The Imhoffs were riding to a dental appointment in Harrisburg.

Son Luke was a passenger on his father's motorcycle. The department says early indications are that Imhoff may have been trying to pass a car and the farm equipment on the highway. As Imhoff began to pass, the car turned in front of him to head into a driveway. Imhoff swerved and hit the tractor.

Both Steve and Luke were taken to Heartland Hospital, then airlifted to the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind. where Imhoff underwent surgery Wednesday night. He is currently in Room 2003 in the hospital's intensive care unit. No calls are being taken at this time.

He is said to have a broken arm and wrist and a back injury. Son Luke's injuries were described as "lesser" and include a broken leg.

The sheriff's department said the air evacuation service had to wait for inclement weather to lift before one of its helicopters could make the transfer.

Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 superintendent Gary Kelly, business manager Cory Robbins, Du Quoin High School principal Lybrand Beard and assistant principal Jeff Gossett were taking a van over to the Evansville hospital this morning to check on Steve and son Luke's condition.