Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

September 29, 2008

Ina man dies from injuries sustained in accident

Staff Report

An Ina man has died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident on Interstate 57 in Williamson County, the second of two multi-vehicle accidents, in which two others were also killed, which happened on Friday night.

According to the Illinois State Police, a three-vehicle accident was reported at 5:03 p.m. near mile marker 64 in Franklin County in the northbound lanes of I57.

Dennis D. Hernandez, 38, of Lamont, Calif., reportedly fell asleep at the wheel while traveling south, crossed the median into oncoming traffic and hit two vehicles. Those in the first vehicle struck, William B. Wiley, 63, and Colleen N. Wiley, 59, both of Florida, received major injuries. The second vehicle Hernandez struck was driven by 19-year-old Yasmin S. Jackson of Belleville, and Kavetta C. Davis, 19, of Chicago was a passenger. Both died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Hernandez was ticketed for driving on a suspended license, driving in the wrong lane, improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Traffic backed up on I57 as a result of the three-vehicle accident when the second accident happened in Williamson County. According to the ISP, a five-vehicle accident happened at the 59 mile marker after a semi driven by Milinko Cukovic, 54, of Ontario, Canada rear-ended an SUV driven by James W. Day, 64, of Benton, with passengers David G. Blood, 77, and Paul E. Blood, 80, both of Ina. The SUV was pushed into a car driven by Darren Wayne Jackson, 30, of Little Rock, Ark., and a vehicle driven by Richard C. Maurer 66, of Canton, which then hit a vehicle driven by Dustin W. Bracken, 22, of Dongola.

Paul Blood was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident and David Blood received major injuries and was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital after being taken to Herrin Hospital.

Cukovic was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

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