Two Vehicle Accident Sends One To Hospital

A Dieterich resident was injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon between Teutopolis and Effingham, in front of Meyer Oil.

Police report that a vehicle driven by 76-year-old Charlene Westendorf of Dieterich was eastbound on Route 40 when she rear-ended a truck driven by 35-year-old Jason Byers of Xenia. Byers was waiting to turn his truck into Charles Heuerman Trucking.

Westendorf was injured and transported by ambulance to St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, and later to Champaign.

Route 40 was shut down in both directions for a short time while crews cleared the scene.  The highway re-opened just before 4pm.

Teutopolis Fire Department, along with Effingham City-County Ambulance, the Effingham County Sheriff's Department, Effingham City Police Department and the Illinois State Police all assisted on scene. Traffic was re-routed via Route 33 to the south, and the frontage road to the north.