Four people were injured in an accident that occurred on I-57 northbound, approximately 2 miles south of Centralia, shortly before 10:00pm on Thursday.
According to a report from the Illinois State Police, 34 year old, Marjorie J. Parrish, of Murphysboro was traveling northbound on I-57 and was distracted while on the phone. Parrish left the roadway, striking a guardrail and then a tree east of the interstate. One of Parrish’s passengers, 18 year old, Jaila N. Smith, of Murphysboro was ejected from the vehicle and was transported by Air Evac to Saint Louis University Hospital. Two additional passengers, a 17 year old female from Carbondale and a 5 year old male from Murphysboro were transported by Air Evac to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. An 11 year old female passenger from Murphysboro was transported by ambulance to Centralia Hospital. Parrish sustained no injuries.
Marjorie Parrish is being charged with driving while license is suspended, improper lane usage, using a hand held cell phone while driving, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, expired registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Jaila Smith is being charged with failure to wear a seat belt.
All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.