One killed in truck/motorcycle accident, another hospitalized

PERRY COUNTY - A truck/motorcycle collision has resulted in one fatality and another critically injured, state police report.

Isaac Gurley, 41, of Herrin, driving a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck, was northbound on Illinois 127 just north of the intersection with Matthews Road in Perry County when it collided with a 2017 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Byrlie Baird, 67, of Ava. Terese Baird, 69, also of Ava, was a passenger on the bike.

According to the report, Gurley was northbound and the Bairds were southbound. Gurley is said to have passed another northbound vehicle in a no-passing zone on a curve, where he struck the motorcycle. Both the driver and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected in the crash. The driver -Byrlie Baird - was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital. His passenger - Terese - was pronounced dead at the scene by Perry County Coroner Paul Searby. The driver of the truck - Gurley - was uninjured. The crash is under investigation by the ISP Crash Reconstruction Unit.

The accident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday. Gurley was cited for passing in a no-passing zone.