A 51-year-old Sandoval man was airlifted from the scene of a four-vehicle crash on new U.S. 50 between Breese and Aviston early Sunday night.
Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous says the crash occurred when a westbound pickup driven by 34-year-old James Wildhaber of Pocahontas drifted into the eastbound lane. An eastbound car driven by 23-year-old Elica Wilkins of South Washington Street in Salem took evasive action by moving into the westbound lane but her car was struck in the passenger side by Wildhaber. As Wildhaber continued eastbound in the wrong lane, another eastbound car took evasive action to try and avoid him. The car driven by 71-year-old Carolyn Deadmond of West DePew in Odin collided with the front passenger door of the Wildhaber pickup.
After impact, the car spun out and came to rest facing south across the westbound lane. Just after Carolyn Deadmond and one of the passengers in her car, 20-year-old Cameron Deadmond of Lebanon, had exited the vehicle, it was hit broadside in the passenger side by a pickup driven by 65-year-old Phillip Clutts of Granite City.
51-year-old Tracy Deadmond of East Arizona in Sandoval, who was still inside the Deadmond vehicle, received serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene to a St. Louis hospital. No one else was hurt.
Wildhaber had bond set at $50,000 after being charged with felony aggravated DUI and multiple other charges including driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and improper lane usage. He was released after posting bond at the Clinton County Jail. As a condition of bond he was ordered to not operate a vehicle. Wildhaber plans to hire his own attorney.
The crash occurred at 7:18 Sunday night. New US 50 was closed for several hours during the cleanup and investigation.
