ATV Collides w/Dump Truck at Lake Sara Thursday

Two teenaged girls were injured when their ATV collided with a dump truck near Lake Sara Thursday afternoon.

A 14-year-old from Effingham was taken by Rural Med EMS to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, while a 12-year-old from Effingham was airlifted by Air Evac to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office reports that the crash happened at 4:28pm on 1500th Avenue, just west of Park Road. The report indicates that an ATV driven by the 14-year-old turned westbound onto 1500th Avenue from a private drive on the north side of 1500th Avenue. A dump truck driven by 64-year-old Stanley Joergens of Dieterich was also headed westbound at the same location. Joergens attempted to apply his brakes to avoid a collision, but was unable to stop before striking the rear of the ATV. 

The ATV ran off the roadway into a ditch, ejecting both occupants. 

The 14-year-old was cited for improper operation of an ATV on a roadway.

Joergens was not injured in the incident.