A head-on crash on US 51 north of Patoka has resulted in three life-threatening injuries.
State Police say the crash occurred a quarter mile north of Kinoka Road and just south of the Patoka Tank Farm. Preliminary information indicates a car driven by 20-year-old Brayden Phillips of Walnut Hill crossed the centerline and struck a vehicle head-on driven by 59-year-old Tammy Nordyke of Vandalia.
Both drivers along with a five-year-old child who was a passenger in the Nordyke car were all taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia by ambulance. All three were later flown to regional hospitals.
Patoka Fire Chief Blake Hyde says a door had to be popped open to get Phillips out of his car while more extensive extrication was required to get Nordyke and the five-year-old out of the other car.
State Police ticketed Phillips for improper lane usage.
The crash occurred at 4:43 on Tuesday afternoon. The road was closed for a considerable time for cleanup.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Patoka and Sandoval Fire and Ambulance, and United Medical Response all responded to the scene.
