State Police have released more preliminary information on a three-vehicle crash that killed a 25-year-old Odin woman on southbound I-57 three miles south of Dix late Thursday night.
Madison Burton was pronounced dead in the emergency room of Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon after CPR was provided from the scene to the hospital.
Reports indicate Burton was parked on the shoulder of the interstate with the emergency flashers activated due to a flat tire. A semi approaching the area activated its turn signal to indicate a lane change to the passing lane to obey state law, to safely pass the stopped vehicle. But the semi driver then observed a pickup truck rapidly approaching and changing lanes causing him to cease the lane change to prevent a collision with the pickup. However, the pickup swiftly returned to the driving lane in an attempt to pass the semi and went onto the shoulder to continue the pass. State Police say during the maneuver, the pickup collided with Burton’s disabled car parked on the shoulder. The impact caused Burton’s car to overturn into the ditch. The pickup driver re-entered the roadway, struck the semi truck, and then ran into the roadside ditch.
Burton was trapped in her vehicle and was freed by Jefferson Fire. An Air Evac helicopter landed on the scene, but because CPR was underway on Burton she was transferred to the hospital instead.
The driver of the pickup, who has not been identified, was also taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries.
The crash occurred at 10:12 Thursday night. The southbound lanes were not reopened to traffic until 3:33 Friday morning.
State Police say the crash investigation continues.
