Two Cars Collide Near Effingham/Clay County Line (UPDATE)

Two cars collided Saturday morning south of Effingham on US 45, injuring both drivers and blocking the highway in both directions for more than an hour.

The crash happened just after 7:30am about a mile north of the Effingham/Clay County line. The accident scene was near 1425th Street at "Walker's Curve" as it's known to residents in that area. The black ice conditions apparently led to the collision. 

The vehicles involved were driven by 47-year-old Gena Block of Flora and 27-year-old Scott Walthes of Kinmundy.

Tonya Blair, who lives in the area of the crash, said she and her son Corey were ready to head into Effingham when they came upon the crash. Block's car was catching fire so Corey Blair and another man who came upon the crash, 50-year-old Kevin Rueter of Mason, assisted in removing Block from her vehicle. Walthes was also injured and was taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Effingham County Sheriff's Department reports the highway was re-opened to traffic in both directions about 8:45am.