Saturday traffic accidents send two to hospital

<span>A pair of one-vehicle traffic accidents on Saturday sent two people to Sparta Community Hospital.</span>

<span>The first accident, which was reported at 7:55 a.m., involved a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by 17-year-old Tiffany Qualls of Steeleville.</span>

<span>According to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office crash report, Qualls was northbound on North Sparta Street an eighth of a mile south of Eden Road when she - for unspecified reasons - exited the right side of the roadway.</span>

<span>Qualls then over-corrected, causing the Ranger to travel across the road and strike the embankment on the other side. The vehicle then rolled over before coming to rest on its passenger side facing south.</span>

<span>The Steeleville Fire Department was paged for extrication. Qualls was transported to the hospital with undisclosed injuries.</span>

<span>There were no citations as a result of the accident.</span>

<span>Later that day, an accident on Route 4 between the Percy T and the railroad tracks also involved a single vehicle.</span>

<span>According to the Perry County Sheriff's Office crash report, 29-year-old Donald M. Tate, of Murphysboro, was driving a Saturn Ion northbound on Route 4 north of Pyatt Cutler Road.</span>

<span>Tate advised first responders that he was attempting to pass a tractor and a white jeep when the jeep in front of him also started to pass.</span>

<span>In attempting to avoid a collision, he lost control of the vehicle.</span>

<span>Tate and two passengers, 19-year-old William J. Finney and 23-year-old Brandon M. Tate, refused medical treatment at the scene.</span>

<span>A third passenger, 51-year-old John P. Threlkeld, was transported to the hospital via Pinckneyville Ambulance Services with undisclosed injuries.</span>

<span>All of the passengers are from Murphysboro. The accident was reported at 2:20 p.m.</span>