ISP INVESTIGATES FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 22
WHAT: Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: Illinois Route 3, just north of Old Cape Road, Union County
WHEN: April 21, 2022 at approximately 4:15 a.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2013 Blue Fiat Sedan
Unit 2 – 2017 Black Toyota Sedan
DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Marie A. Meunier, a 32-year-old female from Cape Girardeau, MO – Deceased
Unit 2 – Pavan Swarna, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL– Deceased
PASSENGERS: Unit 2 – Vamshi K. Pechetty, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Deceased
Unit 2 – Yaswanth S. Uppalapati, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Unit 2 – Kalyan Dorna, a 24-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Unit 2 – Kakumanu Karthik, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 3, just north of Old Cape Road, in Union County. For an unknown reason, Unit 1 crossed the center line and struck the front of Unit 2. The drivers of Units 1 and 2, along with a passenger of Unit 2, were pronounced deceased on scene by the Union County Coroner. The other two passengers of Unit 2 were transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. This is an open and on-going investigation and no other details are available at this time.