Hardin schools mourn death of teacher

Hardin County Schools are mourning a veteran teacher who died in a vehicle accident Sunday near Dixon Springs.

Tamela "Tammy" Kay Conn, 44, Elizabethtown, was involved in an accident Sunday on state Route 145 2 miles south of state Route 146. She was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. at the scene, Pope County Coroner Mark Aly said.

Pope County Sheriff Jerry Suits said his department received the call at 4:12 p.m.

"We were immediately notified of a fatality and requested Illinois State Police to take the lead," Suits said.

Conn was driving a Dodge Caravan minivan north on state Route 145 1/2 mile south of Bay Valley Road when she lost control, started spinning and drove into the path of a Jeep Wrangler, according to a release from Illinois State Police.

The Jeep was driven by Damon P. Acuff, 45, Metropolis, who received an incapacitating injury.

Aly said Conn's daughter - Carson, 14 - was in the vehicle with her. She received a non-incapacitating injury, according to the ISP.

The Jeep had as passengers Tracy L. Acuff, 40, Metropolis and an eight-year-old female of Metropolis, neither of whom sustained incapacitating injuries, according to the release. Suits said all were taken by ambulance to Paducah, Ky., hospitals.

The road was blocked five hours as an ISP reconstructionists worked.

The release indicates the cause of the accident was excessive speeds due to weather conditions. During the time of the accident much of Southern Illinois was experiencing sleet and snow. Suits department had handled several weather-related accidents that afternoon, he said.

Conn was the wife of Paul Conn and mother to Logan, 16, and Carson Conn, 14.

She was a third grade teacher at Hardin County Elementary School for 21 years. She also served as athletic director. She was the daughter of Jerry and Virginia Mosby of the Leamington Community in Gallatin County.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hardin County School and the funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday.

Suits was in contact with the Hardin County Superintendent as arrangements were being made. Grief counseling is being offered through the school.

"There is grief for the students, but also heavy grief for her co-workers," Suits said.