Accident Closes I-64 WB Ramp

The westbound ramp to I-64 and southbound lane of St. Rt. 127 were closed for about a hour and a half for an investigation and cleanup, after a two vehicle accident on August 15. The two vehicles involved were a 1994 Chevrolet 1500, driven by Nicole Sprehe of Centralia, and a 2011 Freightliner in five axle combination with a box trailer, driven by Steven Vass of Henderson, Ky.

Preliminary investigative details indicate that Sprehe was southbound on St. Rt. 127 leaving the scene of a prior property damage only crash located at County Highway 22 at St. Rt. 127. In the prior crash, Sprehe struck the side of a 2012 Chevrolet 3500 and fled the scene without reporting it.

Vass said that when he pulled into the intersection with St. Rt. 127 to cross over from the I-64 westbound exit ramp to the I-64 westbound entrance ramp, there was no visible headlights. The investigating Illinois State Police Trooper believes Sprehe's Chevrolet's headlights may have been damaged in the prior crash. As the semi crossed, Sprehe struck the tandems of the tractor. The impact jackknifed the semi-pushing the semi onto the steep embankment in the southwest corner of the intersection.

Sprehe's vehicle was towed away from the accident due to heavy front end damage. The semi was pulled back onto the road, and was able to drive away from the scene.

Sprehe was transported via ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and Vass was uninjured. Sprehe was charged with Failure to Weat Seatbelt, Driving While License Suspended, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid A Crash, and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash for the two combined incidents.