Two people charged with DUI after Illinois 4 crashes

Two people were airlifted to St. Louis hospitals and charged with driving under the influence after two crashes occurred within hours of each other late Friday and early Saturday along Illinois 4 near St. Jacob, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The first crash occurred about 10:05 p.m. when a GMC pickup truck was traveling north on Route 4. The driver crossed the center line into the southbound lane and collided with a semi-trailer head on, the Post-Dispatch reported.

The driver of the GMC was airlifted to Saint Louis University Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. The driver of the truck was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Highland, where he was treated for minor injuries.

Prior to the crash, there were several 911 calls to report the driver of the GMC was driving erratically, Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. told the Post-Dispatch.

As the two vehicles were removed from the scene at 12:40 a.m., a second crash occurred on Route 4 at Kirsch Road, Dye said.

A black Ford Mustang was headed south on Route 4 when it struck the rear of a semi-trailer that was stopped due to the previous crash, according to the Post Dispatch. The Mustang driver was transported to Saint Louis University Medical Center, where his condition was listed as serious.

The driver of the GMC and the driver of the Mustang were later arrested at the hospitals for driving under the influence of drugs, Dye said.

Both lanes of Illinois 4 were closed for two hours.

This story was originally published August 12, 2017 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Two people charged with DUI after Illinois 4 crashes."