Fatal Crash Near Watson Thursday Afternoon (UPDATE)

(TWO PEOPLE WERE AIRLIFTED FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH)

A single-vehicle crash near Watson resulted in one death and injuries to two other people.

The crash happened around 1:30pm on Illinois Route 37 near Reed Lane, which is between US Route 45 and the east edge of Watson. Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said a vehicle driven by 65-year-old Carol Sporleder of Farina ran off the westbound lane and went down the deep ravine. Sporleder and one passenger in the car, 88-year-old Jeanette Dippold of Farina, were both injured and were airlifted from the crash scene to Carle Hospital in Urbana.

The other passenger, 93-year-old John Dippold of Farina, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

No cause for the crash has been determined.

Agencies assisting at the scene were the Effingham County Sheriff's Office, the Effingham County Coroner's Office, Illinois State Police, Effingham Fire Department, Watson Fire Protection District, Rural Med EMS, and the ISP Accident Reconstruction Team and Illinois Department of Transportation. The investigation is continuing by the Effingham County Coroner's Office and the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Team.

Route 37 was reopened to traffic shortly before 5pm.