Woman Taken for Treatment After Three-Vehicle Crash on US 45

A local woman was airlifted for treatment from the scene of a three-vehicle crash south of Effingham Monday afternoon.

21-year-old Elizabeth Feldhake of Effingham was northbound on US Route 45 near 500th Avenue just before 2pm when the crash happened. A southbound car driven by 18-year-old Landon Back of Effingham attempted to pass a semi driven by 61-year-old Timothy Dodson of Polo and encountered the northbound Feldhake car. 

Illinois State Police report Back pulled left onto the shoulder of the highway to avoid striking the Feldhake vehicle. Meanwhile, Feldhake swerved left to avoid Back's car and struck Dodson's semi head-on in the southbound lane.

Feldhake had to be extricated from her car by the Watson Fire Protection District, and was then airlifted by Air Evac to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment.

Neither Back nor Dodson was injured.

Back was cited for improper lane usage and for improper overtaking on the left. 

US Route 45 was closed at the scene of the crash for about two hours.