Chris Kaergard
Journal Star, Peoria, Ill.
BENSON, Ill. — Three people are dead following an overnight crash involving an ambulance in rural Woodford County.
Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, a silver Chevrolet was traveling southbound on County Road 2400 East about a mile east of Benson when it drove into the path of an ambulance westbound on Illinois Route 116, Illinois State Police stated in a news release.
The ambulance struck the vehicle on the driver’s side, and three people were killed: a 20-year-old woman from Gridley and a 19-year-old man from Minonk, both of whose identities are being withheld pending family notification. A third, still-unidentified male in the Chevrolet was also killed, State Police stated.
The ambulance’s driver, a 42-year-old man from LaSalle, and a 21-year-old man from Minonk who was riding in the Chevrolet were taken to hospitals for treatment of their injuries. The ambulance also was carrying a patient, a 78-year-old woman from Ottawa; and a 25-year-old Earlville woman also was in the ambulance, but no information about their conditions was released.
The roadway was closed for about six hours for officials to investigate the accident, but it was expected to reopen about 8 a.m.
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