Car crashes on Illinois 159, veers down embankment in Swansea

Two people were transported to the hospital for minor injuries following a single-vehicle crash Saturday on Illinois 159 in Swansea.

The car — a burgundy-colored Chrysler Sebring — veered off the northbound lane of 159 in Swansea for unknown reasons crashing into a telephone pole and small transformer box before heading down an embankment into a creek near the Swansea Fire Department, according to Fire Chief John McGuire.

The two people in the car did not have to be extricated and were out of the car when firefighters arrived on scene shortly after 1 p.m.

“They were out of the vehicle when we got there,” McGuire said.

The car was completely down the embankment and partially in the creek below.

“It was really hard to get the car out of the embankment through the creek and out of the woods,” he said.

It took three tow trucks from nearby Classic Towing in Swansea more than an hour to free the car and place it on a flatbed tow truck.

The scene drew spectators, who took photos and video as first responders and tow truck workers worked together to free the car.

This story was originally published September 26, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Car crashes on Illinois 159, veers down embankment in Swansea."