FAIRFIELD, IL — Two semis were involved in a crash on US 45 near County Road 690 North in Wayne County Thursday.

According to Illinois State Police, a semi driven by a 27-year-old Azamat Pardaev from Brooklyn, New York was driving north on US 45 approaching County Road 690 North around 9:15 a.m. A previous crash at this location caused a utility pole and telephone line to fall across both lanes of US 45. Several vehicles had stopped in the northbound lanes due to the obstruction across the roadway.

Another semi driven by 73-year-old Wayne Fatheree of Flora was driving south on US 45 and stopped in the southbound lanes due to the obstruction across the roadway. The New York semi driver crested a hill and noticed several stopped vehicles in the northbound lane, was not able to slow in time and swerved left to avoid the stopped vehicles. The semi struck Fatheree’s semi head-on in the southbound lane.

Fatheree was flown to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The New York semi driver was not hurt and cited for improper lane usage.

The roadway remained closed for six hours during the crash investigation.