Weekend Charity Run Turns Tragic

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ More than 1,000 motorcycle riders converged on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Saturday for the start of the annual Coach Jerry Kill "Run for the Fund" cancer poker run.

But, as the all-day ride neared its end, two motorcycle riders from the Harrisburg and Galatia areas were injured in a truck-motorcycle accident on Rt. 13-126 south of Pinckneyville.

Illinois State Police at Du Quoin say Randall Steinmetz, 30, of Harrisburg and Jessica Marie Cantrell of Galatia were headed back to Du Quoin when a Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Lawrence Thompson, 68, of Pinckneyville pulled out in front of the riders at the intersection of Rt. 13-127 and Cotton Tail Road.

Thompson thought that a string of riders had completely gotten past him. Tall weeds along the shoulder may have contributed to the fact he didn't see the Steinmetz motorcycle. He pulled out in front of the motorcycle which hit the pavement trying to miss the truck and skidded into it.

Both riders received major injuries and were taken to Pinckneyville Community Hospital. They were later transferred by helicopter to a S. Louis hospital.

In a second accident, state police say Justin K. Kellerman, 22, was driving north on White Walnut Road at 2:40 a.m. Sunday morning when his truck went out of control, ran off the road and overturned. He was pinned under the bed of the truck. He was cited for no seatbelt, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol and DUI.