Three die in Highway 149 crash

Three Franklin County residents died in a head-on collision late Thursday on Highway 149 near Plumfield.

Authorities were called to the scene at 10:40 p.m. Thursday night.

Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones said Nickolas Daniel Beasley, 22, of Zeigler was driving east on the highway when his 1998 Jeep Cherokee crossed over into the westbound lane, hitting a 2002 Ford truck being driven west by Sherri Patton, 55, of Benton.

Kristeen Renee Long, 60, of Christopher was a passenger in Patton's truck.

The crash happened just west of the intersection of Highway 149 and Parrish Circle.

Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler confirmed that Beasley and Patton died at the scene of the crash. Long was taken by ambulance to Herrin Hospital, where she died of injuries she suffered in the crash.

Highway 149 traffic was re-routed for hours Thursday night and early Friday, as authorities from the Sheriff's Office, Coroner's Office, West Frankfort Fire Department and West Frankfort Police Department worked at the scene.

A medical evacuation helicopter landed at the scene late Thursday, but no patients were transported in it, West Frankfort fire officials confirmed.

Leffler said all three people involved in the crash were wearing their seat belts, and airbags inside both vehicles deployed.

Patton and Long worked at the Westside Care Center nursing home in West Frankfort.

Beasley worked for M-Class Mining at the Akin Mine.

No further explanations for the cause of the crash have been released. Leffler and Jones said their offices continue to investigate the accident.