SALEM, IL — Illinois State Police have confirmed the identities of two drivers involved in a traffic crash Thursday morning on Illinois Route 37.

According to ISP, 43-year-old Jessie Scott, of Valier, was pronounced dead at the scene near the Sassafras Road intersection just south of Salem.

Scott was traveling northbound on Route 37 when he crossed the center line and struck a pickup truck being driven southbound by 32-year-old Ryne (r-eye-n) Smith, of Centralia head-on.

Smith was reportedly trapped in his truck and was extricated by Salem firefighters.

An Air Evac chopper was able to land on Route 37 and transported Smith to a St. Louis area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Both lanes of Illinois Route 37 were closed from the time of the crash around 9:51 Thursday morning until the crash investigation was completed at approximately 1:35 pm.