(MT. VERNON, IL) — On Wednesday, a semi driven by 57 year old James Patton of Watertown, TN, failed to negotiate a curve and drove through a guard rail. The vehicle continued to travel down the embankment and drove through another guardrail, coming to rest in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64. Patton was taken to the hospital with incapacitating injuries. Traffic from southbound Interstate 57 to eastbound Interstate 64 was re-routed to Exit 83, the Ina exit, for approximately 5 1/2 hours. Illinois State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Mt. Vernon Fire Department, and the Jefferson County Rural Fire Protection District responded to the scene. Charges are pending investigation.

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