ISP Fatal Traffic Crash On Route 3 In Union County

Union County, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 22:

WHAT:                      

• Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:

• Illinois Route 3, just north of Old Cape Road, Union County

WHEN:

• April 21, 2022 at approximately 4:15 a.m.

VEHICLES:

• Unit 1 – 2013 Blue Fiat Sedan
• Unit 2 – 2017 Black Toyota Sedan

DRIVERS:

• Unit 1 – Marie A. Meunier, a 32-year-old female from Cape Girardeau, MO – Deceased
• Unit 2 – Pavan Swarna, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL– Deceased

PASSENGERS:         

• Unit 2 – Vamshi K. Pechetty, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Deceased
• Unit 2 – Yaswanth S. Uppalapati, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
• Unit 2 – Kalyan Dorna, a 24-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
• Unit 2 – Kakumanu Karthik, a 23-year-old male from Carbondale, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.

PRELIMINARY:      

• Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 3, just north of Old Cape Road, in Union County.  For an unknown reason, Unit 1 crossed the center line and struck the front of Unit 2. The drivers of Units 1 and 2, along with a passenger of Unit 2, were pronounced deceased on scene by the Union County Coroner.  Two passengers of Unit 2 were transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  One passenger of Unit 2 was transported by ambulance with life-threatening injuries. This is an open and on-going investigation and no other details are available at this time.