CARRIER MILLS — A Carrier Mills woman was injured in a crash involving a semi-trailer combination and a pickup truck around 3:15 Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 45 just east of Walnut Street in Carrier Mills.

Illinois State Police say 68-year-old Karen A. Cole was driving a pickup truck south on U.S. 45 approaching Carrier Mills when her truck crossed the northbound lane and traveled off the roadway to the left. The pickup then came back onto the roadway to the right. This resulted in a control loss of the pickup and it crossed the center line of the roadway. The pickup then struck the front driver’s side of the semi-trailer combination driven by 38-year-old Patrick W. Strickland of Evansville, IN.

Strickland attempted to avoid striking the pickup but was unsuccessful.

Cole said that she fell asleep at the wheel. She was taken to an area hospital by ambulance. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Cole was charged with improper lane usage.

ISP was assisted at the crash scene by the Saline County Sheriff’s Department, the Carrier Mills and Harrisburg Fire Departments, Saline County Ambulance, Bishop’s Towing and Tri-State Towing.