Route 150 accident claims two lives

<span>STEELEVILLE -- A three-vehicle accident along Route 150 west of the Steeleville village limits on Monday morning fatally injured two Cutler residents.</span>

<span>According to the Illinois State Police's preliminary crash report, and as previously reported by the Herald Tribune, a westbound sedan - now determined to be a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by 39-year-old Lynette A. Koch - crossed the centerline "for unknown reasons" and collided with a trailer being hauled eastbound by a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado.</span>

<span>Koch then lost control of her vehicle and collided nearly head-on with a 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was following behind the Silverado.</span>

<span>A passenger in Koch's vehicle, 20-year-old Shawn Michael Williams Farmer, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at Sparta Community Hospital. Koch was pronounced on-scene by the Randolph County Coroner's Office.</span>

<span>Farmer was later reported by family members on Facebook as Koch's son.</span>

<span>The driver of the Freightliner, 58-year-old Brent A. Taylor of Evansville (Ill.), received non-incapacitating injuries and was transported by MedStar Ambulance to Sparta Community Hospital.</span>

<span>The driver of the Silverado, 40-year-old Shawn M. Jones of Sparta, was uninjured in the accident, which was reported at 8:54 a.m. Firefighters with the Steeleville and Percy fire departments were paged for extrication of the victims.</span>

<span>All three vehicles were towed from the scene.</span>

<span>The section of Route 150 east of the Steeleville T was closed for more than three hours due to cleanup and accident reconstruction. It was reopened to traffic at 1:45 p.m.</span>

<span>The accident is still under investigation by the Illinois State Police. Funeral arrangements for the deceased are pending.</span>