Sandoval man killed in two-vehicle accident

A Sandoval man was killed in an accident on Route 50 at Hahn Road in eastern Clinton County early Tuesday during the heavy rain that moved through the area, according to Illinois State Police. Reports indicate that John Randy Ferguson, 54, of Sandoval, was pronounced dead at the scene by Clinton County Coroner David Moss at 7:13 a.m. Ferguson was westbound when he collided with an eastbound vehicle driven by John B. Clark, 31, of Carlyle.

According to the police report, Clark tried to pass an eastbound tractor-trailer and swerved when he saw the headlights from the oncoming car. Clark swerved to his left into the north ditch in an attempt to avoid the collision, while Ferguson swerved to the right, entering the same ditch. The vehicles then collided in the ditch.

Clark was taken to St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Centralia for injuries sustained in the accident, where he was treated and released. Source

Three killed in accident near Freer

Three people died about 11 a.m. Tuesday in a burning van after it struck an 18-wheeler 14 miles north of Freer, police said. Pasadena residents Maria Consuelo Sanchez, 59, Maria Delcarmen Guardiolla, 49, and Juan Guardiolla, 70, were unable to escape the green 2001 Plymouth van as it was engulfed in flames, according to Department of Public Safety reports.

The van was traveling south on U.S. Highway 59 when it veered into the northbound lane colliding with a 2003 Kenworth tractor trailer driven by Mark Zetterstrom. Zetterstrom was not injured, police said.

An identification card was found inside the van that allowed police to contact family of the deceased, according to reports. Justice of the Peace Ben Garza pronounced the three occupants dead at the scene. Source