Massac County Crash Claims Three Lives

Three people died in a three-vehicle accident Thursday morning on U.S. Highway 45 in Massac County.  

Illinois State Police responded to the scene just before 6:30 am, and both lanes of the highway were closed just south of the Route 169 intersection west of Metropolis.

Police say 23-year-old Rachel E. Killian of Marion, Illinois was northbound on Highway 45 when her vehicle went off the right side of the road. Police say she over-corrected and crossed into the southbound lane. 

Killian's vehicle hit a car driven by 57-year-old Karla Reichert of Karnak. After the head-on collision, an SUV driven by 62-year-old Cathy Ulen of Ullin rear-ended Reichert's car.

Police say Killian and a one-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene by the Massac County Coroner. Three other passengers in that vehicle - two 3-year-old girls and a 9-month old boy - were taken to Baptist Health Paducah with serious injuries. Police say one of the 3-year-old girls died at the hospital from her injuries. Police say nobody in the vehicle was restrained except the 9-month old, who was in a car seat.

Reichert was taken to an out-of-state hospital with severe injuries.

Police say the highway was re-opened after about 3-1/2 hours.