SALINE COUNTY — A fatal crash involving a semi and a tractor happened around 1:40 Sunday afternoon on U.S. 45 at Muddy Road in Saline County.

Illinois State Police say 60-year-old Raymond G. Bowles of  Harrisburg was driving his tractor slowly south on U.S. 45 in the right lane at Muddy Road when the driver of the semi – 56-year-old Kevin S. Voelker of Omaha – was also going south in the same lane and driving faster than Bowles.

Voelker claimed he was distracted when he drop an e-cigarette device in his cab. Voelker’s semi then struck the tractor in the rear overturning it.

Bowles was injured and airlifted to a local hospital where he later passed away from his injuries. Voelker was not injured. He was charged with failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

ISP was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, the Saline County Ambulance Service and Life Flight.