I-57 crash kills Mississippi woman

A 53-year-old Mississippi woman was killed and two others injured Saturday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 57 in northern Champaign County.

Laurie I. Chandler of Corinth, Miss., was pronounced dead at the scene, about 5 miles north of Rantoul. Illinois State Police said Ms. Chandler was a passenger in a southbound vehicle that was hit by the flatbed trailer of a passing pickup.

The driver of the pickup pulling the trailer was identified as 43-year-old Jerry McCreary II of Loda. Police said he was passing the vehicle driven by 49-year-old Mechele Hamm, of Walnut, Miss., but the flatbed trailer hit the vehicle as he merged back into the right lane.

Hamm lost control and rolled several times in the grassy median.

Three others injured were taken to Carle Hospital in Urbana.

McCreary was ticketed for improper lane usage.

94.1 WGFA