ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT 

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by

Illinois State Police District 12 

WHAT:                      Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash       

WHERE:                   Illinois Route 37 at Sassafras Road, Marion County

WHEN:                      June 23, 2022 at approximately 9:51 a.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1 – 2005 Red Dodge Truck

Unit 2 – 2017 Black Ford Truck

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Jessie P. Scott, 43-year-old male from Valier, IL - Deceased

                                    Unit 2 – Ryne M. Smith, 32-year-old male from Centralia, IL – Transported to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.

PRELIMINARY:      A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling northbound on Illinois Route 37 at Sassafras Road.  Unit 2 was traveling southbound at the same location. For unknown reasons, Unit 1 lost control, entered the southbound lane, and struck the front of Unit 2. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene by the Marion County Coroner.  The driver of Unit 2 was transported to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both lanes of Illinois Route 37 were closed for the crash investigation and reopened at approximately 1:35 p.m. No further information is available at this time.