Du Quoin Child Killed in Car Crash
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Heartbreak and disbelief surround a 6:36 p.m. Tuesday, March 13 accident that claimed the life of a 6-year-old Du Quoin child.
The accident at the crossroads of East Park Street Road and Rt. 148 left seven others injured, Victims were transported or airlifted to hospitals in Du Quoin, Benton and St. Louis.
Emergency personnel used the last of the early evening daylight to begin assisting victims.
Rt. 148 runs between Christopher and Sesser and was closed for more than two hours as emergency personnel took care of victims and worked to clear the blockage.
Brianna Karnes, 6, of Du Quoin was wearing a seatbelt and was fatally injured. She was taken to Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin by Cardinal Ambulance Service of Franklin County where she was pronounced dead.
She was a passenger in a westbound car on Park Street Road driven by Michael J. Melvin, 32, of Du Quoin.
He had major injuries and was taken to St. Louis University Medical Center. His other passengers were Glenda S. Karnes, 30, of Du Quoin, who was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital with major injuries, and Brian M. Karnes, 7, who was taken to St. Louis Children's Hospital with major injuries.
The second vehicle, an SUV, was being driven southbound on 148 by Toni L. Ward, 26, of Benton.
Passengers in the Ward SUV were Shannon R. Cleer, 31, of Benton, who had major injuries; Draven J. Taylor, 2, of Benton, minor injuries; and Kadenz S. Taylor, 1, Benton, minor injuries. They were taken to Franklin Hospital in Benton. All were wearing seat belts, police said.
State police officers say their investigation indicates Melvin failed to stop at the stop sign and drove into the path of the Ward vehicle. Melvin was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.
Tamaroa Fire Chief and EMT?Richard Valentine was onboard one of the Cardinal ambulances at the scene. A Du Quoin nurse who works at a Southern Illinois Hospital stopped to assist paramedics working with the victims.
Three fire departments assisted in treating and transporting the injured.
The 911 call came into Franklin County dispatch at 6:39 p.m. The scene was cleared at 8:50 p.m. Traffic was detoured over county and township roads while Rt. 148 was closed.
The Coello Fire Department sent several emergency workers to the scene. Sesser sent extrication equipment to the scene. Valier and Coello firemen set up a landing zone for medical evacuation helicopters.
The vehicles were towed by Zettler Towing.
An Illinois State Police accident reconstruction investigator will be working on the case.
Second Recent Fatality at Same Intersection
The intersection has been the scene of two fatal accidents in recent weeks.
Samantha A. Seiler, 20, of Cambria has been in Franklin County Jail since the Jan. 5 crash that killed Delena Sue Ramsey, 49 of Mulkeytown.
Seiler's car collided with Ramsey's vehicle after Seiler failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Illinois 148 and Park Street Road in western Franklin County,
Seiler is accused of driving under the influence of cannabis, and with a 10-month-old child as a passenger, when the crash occurred. She is also charged with possession of cannabis in an amount more than 30 grams but less than 500.
Seiler also waived her right to a speedy trial during the hearing.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 29.