A 45-year-old Mt. Vernon man was injured when his pickup went out of control Friday afternoon after embers from a cigarette blew into his face.
The crash occurred on US 51 north of the Country Bobs Plant just south of the Wamac city limits.
Irvington Police, who handled the crash, reported Robert Biggs of Opdyke Avenue was traveling southbound on US 51 when he rolled down his window and lit a cigarette. He lost control when he tried to get the embers off his face when they blew back in through the window. The pickup truck then ramped over the Yards Road intersection and rolled over sideways several times. In the process, Biggs struck an Ameren power pole causing it to break in two. However, the power lines remained in place.
Biggs was out of the vehicle when emergency help arrived on the scene from the Centralia Police Department and Centralia Fire Protection District.
Biggs was taken via Lifestar Ambulance to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia for treatment of a head laceration. Unfortunately, his dog was not as fortunate, as it died in the crash.
The crash was first reported at 2:57 Friday afternoon.
