(EFFINGHAM) The investigation is continuing into a two vehicle traffic crash last evening that claimed the life of a Wayne County teenager. The Illinois State Police and Clay County Coroner Bryce Henry reports that Clay County emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Ironwood Road and U.S. Route 50, about two miles east of Xenia, at 6:43 Sunday evening, for the collision involving a side-by-side and semi-truck. The driver of a side-by-side, 15 year old Owen W. Bailey of Cisne, was transported to Clay County Hospital in Flora, where he was pronounced deceased. The unidentified truck driver was not injured. It’s believed that the teen was traveling westbound on the shoulder of Route 50 and was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Ironwood Road, when for unknown reasons, pulled out in front of the eastbound semi-truck, causing the collision. The fatal crash is still under investigation by authorities. Assisting at the scene were several other emergency agencies from throughout Clay County. Route 50 was closed for over five hours before being reopened at approximately 12:15 early this morning.
