Eight People Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash South of Effingham

Eight people were injured in a three-vehicle crash Thursday morning south of Effingham.

Effingham County Sheriff's Office reported that all of those injured were in the same vehicle, and are all from Louisville.

The sheriff's office reported that the crash occurred at 6:29am on US Route 45, a quarter-mile north of Dutch Lane. A tractor and trailer operated by 20-year-old Gavin Sherrod of Effingham was struck from behind by a vehicle by 25-year-old Crystal Cruse of Louisville. The report stated that the tractor and trailer were struck from behind by Cruse's vehicle due to the tractor and trailer not having proper lighting. A third vehicle driven by 48-year-old Sean Loy of Louisville skidded out of control due to sawdust falling on the highway from the trailer being pulled by Sherrod's tractor.

Crystal Cruse was injured, along with her seven passengers; a seven-year-old girl, a one-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, an 11-month-old girl, and a two-year-old girl. The seven-year-old was airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, while the other seven occupants were taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham. 

Deputies cited Sherrod for improper lighting, while Cruse was cited for failure to properly secure a minor in a car seat.

US Highway 45 was blocked until close to 8am.