Pinckneyville woman killed when driver sideswipes van, hits group of motorcyclists
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A Clarksville, Tenn., man was handcuffed and charged with DUI at the scene after he sideswiped a northbound van on U.S. Route 51 south of Tamaroa Sunday, then went out of control and struck a group of six motorcyclists returning home to Pinckneyville after an afternoon ride.
A passenger on one of the motorcycles, Arlene Hackworth, 56 of Pinckneyville died from her injuries at Marshall Browning Hospital.
There were victims from Pinckneyville, Tamaroa and Du Quoin. Traffic on Rt. 51 was blocked for more than three hours and was backed up for more than a mile as officers from the District 13 command at Du Quoin and the Perry County Sheriff's Department sorted it all out. Three medical evacuation helicopters landed at the scene to transport victims to St. Louis hospitals.
The accident happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Rt. 51 approximately one-half mile north of Kimzey Road.
Illinois State Police say a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Thomas E. Harris, 43, of Clarksville, Tenn. was northbound on Rt. 51 and passed a red 2008 Chrysler Town & Country van driven by Jo Ellen Hohnes, 40, of Tremont, Illinois.
Harris sideswiped the van as he tried to re-enter the northbound lane of traffic. In doing so, his truck went out of control, crossing into the southbound lane and striking a 2001 Harley Davidson driven by Roy I. Hackworth, 61, of Pinckneyville, husband of the woman who lost her life.
His passenger was Laurie A. Jenkel, 42 of Tamaroa. The two were treated for only minor injuries at the scene.
The motorcycles behind him were being ridden in a customary staggered formation in the southbound lane. The drivers tried to avoid a collison and took evasive action. Three of the motorcycles went to the pavement. They included a 1999 Harley Davidson driven by Derick Clay Jenkel, 35, of Tamaroa. His passenger was Arlene Hackworth, who lost her life. Mrs. Hackworth was transported to Marshall Browning Hospital by the Pinckneyville Ambulance Service. Jenkel was airlifted to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis with major injuries. The second motorcycle was a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by Scott E. Meadows, 38, of Pinckneyville. He received major injuries and was airlifted to St. Louis University hospital. The third motorcycle, a 2000 Harley Davidson, was driven by Frank Rimnac, 31 of Pinckneyville. His passenger was Samantha L. Orr, 24, of Fairbury, Illinois. They were transported to Pinckneyville Community Hospital with moderate injuries.
None of the drivers or riders were wearing helmets.
After the truck struck the motorcycles it continued out of control, left the pavement on the west side, rolled over and came to rest in a field about a quarter of a mile north of where the collision first occurred. In fact, Tamaroa firemen who responded saw only the truck at the outset as they rolled up to the scene and were told the motorcycle victims were farther south.
Passengers in the Harris truck were Jason L. Coffel, 38, of Du Quoin; Chandra R. Schriefer, 31, of Centralia, a 13-year-old female from Centralia and a 12-year-old male from Centralia. Schriever was taken to Marshall Browning Hospital for treatment and the 13-year-old was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital.
Harris failed a sobriety test at the scene, was handcuffed by officers and transported to the Perry County Jail. He is also charged with endangering the life of a child, driving while license was suspended and wrong lane usage. Other charges are pending.
Emergency personnel included Tamaroa firefighters, Pinckneyville Ambulance Service, the Washington County Ambulance Service and medical evacuation helicopters from Arch Medical Services and Air Evac Services.