Wreck closes Rt. 51 for five hours

A 41-year-old Pinckneyville woman southbound on Rt. 51 near Professional Auto Body Friday crossed the centerline hitting a northbound box cargo truck headon, then continued on striking a 2012 Chrysler sedan driven by a Du Quoin woman. Her two-year-old daughter was a passenger in that car.

The Perry County Sheriff's Department says Heather Hill of Pinckneyville was driving a Ford F150 pickup truck southbound pulling an empty horse trailer. Her truck swerved over the centerline and struck a 2014 Izuzu box truck headon driven by Kuhnum Hayes, 44, of Centralia.

The truck and trailer continued southbound and struck the Chrysler driven by Tiffany Fjeldseth, 26, of Du Quoin.

Both the horse trailer and the box truck overturned along the highway. All three vehicles received major damage. Two helicopters were called in . Fjeldseth was flown from the scene, said to have a broken leg and broken arm and possible head injury. Her daughter was taken to Marshall Browning Hospital and later transferred to a St. Louis hospital. Hill was taken to Marshall Browning Hospital, then transferred to a St. Louis hospital. Hill was cited for improper lane usage and no insurance. All vehicles received major damage. Rt. 51 was closed until almost 7 p.m. The investigation continues.