Fiery Crash North of Farina Monday Night

Two people were injured in a fiery crash north of Farina Monday night.

Two Monticello teenagers were involved in the crash, which occurred at 10:01pm on I-57 southbound, two miles north of Farina. The driver, 18-year-old Jace Freiboth, told Illinois State Police he had to swerve to miss hitting a deer. His van ran off the interstate to the right, drove through a fence, and struck several small trees. The van then became engulfed in flames.

Freiboth and his 19-year-old passenger, Dustin Wiegel, were able to exit the vehicle on their own and flag down a motorist. Wiegel was taken by ambulance to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment. Freiboth was injured, but refused treatment.

Both Freiboth and Wiegel were cited for not wearing a seat belt and Freiboth was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid the crash.