A 49-year-old Centralia man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on US 51 four miles north of Vandalia involving a stolen vehicle during the noon hour on Thursday.
State Police say preliminary investigative details indicate a pickup truck driven by 49-year-old Ronald Seals of Centralia was struck by another pickup that crossed the centerline. It was driven by 28-year-old Randal Howell of Ramsey. He was reportedly driving a truck that had been stolen from the Vandalia High School Parking Lot on Wednesday.
Police had been trying to stop Howell before the crash and he fled the scene of the crash before being taken into custody by Fayette County Deputies and Illinois Secretary of State Police for this and other unrelated charges stemming from incidents prior to the crash. Charges against Howell in connection with the crash include improper lane usage and leaving the scene of a personal injury traffic crash.
Seals was transported via ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The crash occurred at 12:11 Thursday afternoon.
