Steeleville man dies in three-vehicle wreck
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A 30-year-old Steeleville man died in a three-car accident on Thursday on State Route 154 near Pinckneyville.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a news release from the Perry County Sheriff's Office, deputies received multiple 911 calls around 6:38 a.m. reporting a traffic accident in the 7000 block of Route 154.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Upon arrival, deputies discovered the accident involved a 1995 Dodge Neon, 2003 Chevrolet utility vehicle and a 2012 Ford van.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Two of the vehicles - the Neon and the SUV - sustained major damage in the wreck. The van had turned onto its side on the highway to the west of the other vehicles</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The sheriff's office identified the victims as Anthony J. Hagene, of Steeleville, 36-year-old Jamie R. Perry of Pinckneyville, a female juvenile passenger with Perry and 40-year-old Edgar A. Pursell, of Du Quoin.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The sheriff's office told the Herald Tribune that Hagene, who was pronounced dead on scene by Perry County Coroner Paul Searby, was driving the Neon. Perry was driving the utility vehicle and Pursell was driving the van.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Perry was airlifted by Arch Medical Helicopter Service to St. Louis University Hospital, while the juvenile female with her was taken by helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Pursell was transported to Pinckneyville Community Hospital by Pinckneyville Ambulance.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">According to his Facebook page, Hagene was a former security therapy aide at the Chester Mental Health Center, a former correctional officer at the Perry County Sheriff's Office, and an in-flight refueler with the U.S. Air Force.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hagene's obituary from Pyatt Funeral Home in Pinckneyville stated that after leaving the Air Force as a senior airman, he worked as an electrician. He enjoyed fishing, making homemade bows and was involved in Hunting for Heroes.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Funeral services for Hagene will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home on Monday at 10 a.m. with Pastor James Clardy officiating. Military rites will be performed by American Legion Post No. 2504 in Pinckneyville.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The news release stated the Illinois State Police is continuing to investigate and reconstruct the accident.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">"A determination into the cause of the accident will be established and released once the investigation is completed," the release said.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Route 154 was closed for four and a half hours for accident reconstruction and cleanup. The sheriff's office stated further injury information was unavailable and family notifications were being completed at the time of the release.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Other agencies responding to the accident were the Pinckneyville and Tamaroa fire departments.</span>