Three killed in accidents last week

A pair of separate accidents late last week in Randolph County resulted in three people being fatally injured.

The first fatal accident was reported on April 21 at 6:04 a.m.

According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Arkell L. Litton, 64, of Red Bud, was driving a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser northbound on State Route 3. Near the intersection with Dew Drop Landing (between Evansville and Ellis Grove), the vehicle veered off the right shoulder. It skidded across a gravel parking lot, striking the left rear wheel of a case front end loader then the rear of a John Deere grader.

The second fatal accident was reported on April 22 around 1 p.m.

According to the Illinois State Police, Nicholas T. Cook, 34, of DuQuoin, in a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling eastbound on Broadway Street near James Street in Steeleville.

Stopped at the stop sign on James Street with the intersection with Broadway was a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle with Dakota Morrision, 26, of Chester, as the driver and Diane M. Gonzalez, 31, of Steeleville, as the passenger.

For an unknown reason, Cook crossed the westbound lane and struck the motorcycle.

For more on the accidents, please see this week’s print edition.