The Washington County Coroner has identified the two people killed in the head on crash on Route 15 near Ashley Thursday morning.
Coroner Mark Styninger says the driver of the car that crossed the centerline, 45-year-old Kristy Wilson of Centralia, was killed along with a passenger in her car, 44-year-old Aaron Johnson whose last known address was Mesa, Arizona were both pronounced dead on the scene.
The coroner reports Wilson was a restrained driver who lost control while rounding a curve, ran off the roadway, over corrected and struck a pickup truck. The driver of that vehicle, whose name has not been released, was flown from the scene to a regional hospital by an air ambulance.
Speed is believed to be a factor in the accident. Toxicology samples were obtained on Wilson by Coroner Styninger for routine testing.
Agencies on the scene were the Washington County Ambulance Service, Ashley Fire Department, Nashville Fire Department Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, Washington County Emergency Management Agency and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.
The cause of death of both victims appears to be blunt force trauma. The manner of death is accidental.
The crash continues to be investigated by the Illinois State Police and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.
The crash occurred at 9:42 Thursday morning. Route 15 was reopened at approximately 2:55 Thursday afternoon.
We’ll have additional information as it becomes available.
