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JEFFERSON COUNTY — Three people were injured in a four-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 57 near the Jefferson County/Franklin County line.

According to Illinois State Police, around 2:36 p.m. Wednesday a semi-truck and trailer being driven by 30-year-old Ruslan Mankov of Hollandale Beach Florida, and a 2018 Chevy pickup truck being driven by 24-year-old Tyler Newbury of Waltonville, Ill., were traveling northbound on I-57 while a 2023 Nissan Maxima driven by 72-year-old John Laehn, of Aiken, SC, and a 2018 GMC Terrain being driven by 62-year-old Melissa Barkley of West Frankfort, Ill. were traveling southbound in the same area.

The semi reportedly changed lanes forcing the Chevy truck off the roadway. The rear portion of the semi apparently struck the front end of the pickup truck, causing it to lose control, and go through the median, and into oncoming southbound lanes.

At that point, both the Maxima and the Terrain struck the pickup truck.

Newbury was airlifted to a regional hospital for treatment of injuries, while Laehn and his 69-year-old female passenger, also from Aiken, SC were transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment.

I-57 SB was shut down for a period of time.