WASHINGTON COUNTY, IL — A 52-year-old Coulterville woman was airlifted with life-threatening injuries she suffered Tuesday in a three-vehicle crash in Washington County. According to Illinois State Police, Karen Blank was driving her SUV eastbound on Marissa Road, heading towards the intersection of Illinois 153 and Marissa Road, when she failed to yield at a stopped intersection and ran into oncoming traffic.

Blank then struck the front of a semi-truck being driven by 27-year-old Bradley Schnitker, of Hoyleton. After spinning out of control the Blank vehicle struck pickup truck being driven 82-year-old Thomas Welch, of Sparta. Blank had to be airlifted from the scene to a St. Louis Area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The two other drivers and one passenger all refused treatment at the scene.

Blank has been cited for failure to stop at an intersection and for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.