MARION, IL — Two people were killed and another person was injured in a three-vehicle crash Wednesday on Illinois 37 south of Marion.

According to Illinois State Police, around 9:15 a.m. 70-year-old Charles M. Hedges and his passenger, 44-year-old Joseph Taylor, both of Carterville, were going north in a pickup truck on Illinois 37 just south of Kellville Road as a semi-trailer combination driven by 65-year-old Monty D. Millenbine of Mill Shoals was going south behind another semi-trailer combination driven by 62-year-old Darwin E. Titzer of Mill Shoals in the same location. For unknown reasons Hedges crossed the center line and struck the side of Titzer’s semi and then the front of Millenbine’s semi. Millenbine left the roadway to the right and overturned. Hedges and Taylor were pronounced dead on scene by the Williamson County Coroner. Titzer claimed no injuries on scene. Millenbine was flown to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Illinois 37 was closed for five hours during the crash investigation. ISP says the investigation is still ongoing and no further information is available at this time.