Effingham County, IL-(Effingham Radio)- From Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes:
The driver of the white mini van involved in the crash on Rt. 40 at the “S” curves just west of Country Club Road on Sunday June 15th has been identified as Ashley Westendorf of Altamont, Illinois. Westendorf was traveling westbound on Rt. 40 and was struck head-on by a pick-up truck driven by Harland Neville. Ashley Westendorf suffered critical injuries and was airlifted from the scene. Ashley remains hospitalized at this time. Ashley’s passengers were her three children, ages 8, 4 and 4 months old. All the children were properly seat belted in the vehicle. They have since been released from the hospital.
The incident is still under investigation by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police.
Original release:
On Sunday June 15, 2025 at 4:18pm the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Effingham City Police Department and the Illinois State Police responded to a two-vehicle head-on crash on Rt. 40 at the “S” curves just west of the Country Club Road. Upon arrival, it was determined one male was unresponsive in his vehicle. The Effingham County Coroner’s Office (Coroner Kim Rhodes) was notified and pronounced Harland J. Neville, age 58 of Altamont, Illinois deceased at the scene.
Preliminary information indicated Harland Neville was eastbound on Rt. 40 in a Black Chevrolet Pick-up when he crossed the center line in the “S’” curves and struck a westbound White Minivan head-on. There were four family members in the mini-van and all sustained various injuries. Three children were transported to HSHS St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham and the female driver was air-lifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. The names of these individuals are not being released at this time.
An autopsy for Harland Neville is scheduled for 10:30 am at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington, Illinois to determine the official cause of death and collect toxicology samples. Those results should be available in about three weeks.
Rt. 40 was closed from 4:18 pm to approximately 8pm to conduct the investigation.
The case remains under investigation by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police.
Agencies that assisted at the scene were:
- Effingham County Sheriff’s Department
- Effingham City Police
- Effingham Fire Department
- Shumway Fire Department
- Altamont Police Department
- Illinois State Police and Traffic Reconstruction Unit
- Rural Med EMS
- IDOT
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