FRANKLIN COUNTY, IL — Alcohol is said to have been a factor in two separate crashes along I-57 at milepost 79 in Franklin County Sunday. Illinois State Police arrested both drivers in both crashes that occurred Sunday morning and saw a M.t Vernon woman injured due to the wrecks.

The first accident occurred around 2 in the morning when a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Samuel Heintz of Collinsville ran off the side of the road and struck a guardrail. While the second crash was caused because the driver, 24-year-old Makaila Ballard of Mt. Vernon, was serving to miss the Heintz vehicle. He was ticketed for DUI of alcohol, Illegal Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, Driving Too Fast for Conditions, Improper Lane Usage, and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.

Neither driver was injured, however a passenger in the Ballard car, 27-year-old Victoria Ballard also of Mt. Vernon, was flown from the scene to a regional hospital for treatment of injuries.

Makaila Ballard was ticketed for DUI of Alcohol, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.