State Police say three people were injured in a crash on I-57 at the Jefferson-Franklin County line where a car crossed the median and broadsided an oncoming vehicle.
Preliminary investigation indicates a semi-truck driven by 30-year-old Ruslan Makov of Hollendale Beach, Florida was traveling northbound when he changed lanes forcing a pickup driven by 24-year-old Tyler Newbury of Waltonville off the road. After the rear of the semi hit the front end of the pickup, Newbury lost control and went through the median and into the oncoming southbound lanes. He broadsided a car driven by 72-year-old John Laehn of Aiken, South Carolina. A second car driven by 62-year-old Melissa Barkley of West Frankfort then hit the Laehn car.
Newbury was trapped in his pickup and had to be extricated by the Jefferson Fire Department. He was then airlifted from the scene to a regional hospital.
John Laehn and a passenger in his car, 69-year-old Judith Laehn of Aiken, South Carolina, were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment.
Mankov and Barkley escaped injury.
The crash occurred at 2:36 Wednesday afternoon. The southbound lanes of the Interstate were closed about an hour.
