Two flown to Springfield hospital in critical condition
PLYMOUTH, ILL. -- Two Tri-States residents were reported in critical condition after a head on crash south of Plymouth Thursday night.
22-year-old Brittany Ramirez and 8-year-old Melanie Cook were rushed to St. John's Hospital in Springfield after the car they were in was hit head on by another vehicle.
According to the Illinois State Police, the driver of the that vehicle, 25-year-old Brett Vanfleet of Augusta, Illinois was texting while driving and crossed the center line on Illinois 61 hitting the other vehicle.
Besides Ramirez and Cook, three other people were taken to Blessing Hospital for treatment of serious to minor injures.
Brett Vanfleet was charged with reckless driving, texting while driving, improper lane usage and failure to wear a seatbelt.
This story strikes close to home for KHQA ... while we are happy that there were only injuries reported and not fatalities, we really want to push all of our viewers to take the pledge to Just Let It Ring.
Drivers using handheld devices are 4 times as likely to get involved in a crash serious enough to injure themselves.
Not only do we challenge you to take the pledge, but we want you to spread the word ... you could save lives and possibly win a new Kia Soul.
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