Two fatal accidents took place in Wayne County on Friday according to reports from the Illinois State Police.
At approximately 1:17 pm, 35 year old Steven Vanarkel of Holt, Missouri was travelling north on Enterprise Road in a semi when he failed to stop at a stop sign and entered the intersection onto Illinois Route 161. A pickup driven by 35 year old Brian Cotton of Fairfield then struck the semi.
Cotton was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in Cotton’s truck was airlifted to a regional hospital by Air Evac. Vanarkel was cited for disobeying a stop sign. An ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Officer and an ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer have been assigned to the investigation.
State Police were assisted at the scene by ISP Crime Scene Services, Illinois Secretary of State Police, the Wayne County Coroner’s office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne County Ambulance Service, North Wayne Ambulance Service, Air Evac, Wayne County Highway Department, and Rick’s Towing.
At 10:16 pm Friday, 42 year old Reginald Washington of Alton was driving west on Route 15 west of Wayne County road 1175E when he attempted to pass another vehicle. Washington struck 61 year old Steven Robinson of Fairfield’s motorcycle head-on.
Robinson was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Wayne County Coroner. Washington was taken by Air Evac to a regional hospital. A passenger in Washington’s vehicle refused medical treatment.
Illinois State Police assigned a Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit officer to the investigation. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne City Fire Department, Wayne City Ambulance Service, and Rick’s Towing.
