One Killed, One Injured in Head-On Crash North of Effingham Friday Morning (UPDATE)

A Neoga woman was fatally injured in a crash on US Route 45 on the north edge of Effingham Friday morning.

44-year-old Rachel Pace was traveling a short distance north of Rickelman Avenue when her van crossed the centerline and struck the front of a pickup truck. Pace was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana where she died from her injuries. 

The driver of the pickup truck, 23-year-old Mason Thomas of Neoga, was injured in the crash. Thomas was taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment.

The crash was reported at 9:15am. The roadway was closed until after 2pm Friday for the investigation of the crash.