The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department has released details on a two-vehicle head-on crash on the Shattuc Road just south of Sand Ridge Road early Wednesday evening that injured five people. Two of those injured were airlifted to St. Louis Hospitals for treatment.
The sheriff’s department reports that 31-year-old Nathan Abel of Edgewood Lane South in Centralia was southbound when he began to feel lightheaded, exited the right side of the road, and drove into the ditch. After coming back onto the Shattuc Road, Abel reportedly drove into the wrong lane and collided head-on with a northbound car driven by 28-year-old Anthony Basset of North Elm Street in Centralia. Due to the impact, the Basset vehicle spun completely 180 degrees and came to rest facing south partially in the northbound lane and east side ditch. The Abel vehicle continued south and drove into the east-side ditch. Sheriff’s deputies say the vehicle appeared to have rolled at least one time.
Deputies say after initially refusing treatment on the scene, Abel and a 4-year-old boy who was in the back seat were taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment. Front seat passenger 29-year-old Danielle Higgins of Edgewood Lane South in Centralia was initially taken to St. Mary’s Hospital but was later airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital.
The other driver, Anthony Basset, was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance. A front seat passenger, 37-year-old Rose Bounds of North Pine in Centralia, had to be extricated from the vehicle by Sandoval Fire Department and was flown from the scene to a St. Louis Hospital.
Abel told deputies after becoming light-headed he did not remember anything else until the crash occurred. Reports say Abel did not have any signs of impairment but did admit to having been given painkillers for a tooth extraction before driving. He was ticketed for improper lane usage.
Both vehicles were totaled. The crash occurred at 5:18 on Wednesday evening.
