WILLIAMSON COUNTY –A three-car crash Thursday afternoon in Williamson County resulted in injuries to three people, according to the Illinois State Police.

ISP reports a car, driven by 23-year-old Devin A. O’Daniell of Royalton, was going east on Herrin Road, just west of Greenbriar Road, around 12:50 p.m. as a truck, driven by 46-year-old Eric Lee McCormack of West Frankfort and another car driven by 52-year-old Debra K. Perry of Johnston City, were both going in the same direction with McCormack in front of Perry.

O’Daniell said he dropped a lit cigarette and lost control of his car. He drifted into the westbound lane and sideswiped McCormack, continued past it and struck Perry head on.All three vehicles came to rest in ditches near the roadway.

O’Daniell suffered major injuries and was flown to a regional hospital. Perry also suffered major injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. McCormack was not hurt.

A passenger in O’Daniell’s car, 30-year-old Claudia M. Bolivar of Logan, and the passenger in McCormack’s truck, 55-year-old Maureen Odum of West Frankfort, both suffered non-life threatening injuries. They were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The roadway was closed for approximately two hours for emergency medical needs, crash investigation and scene clean up.

O’Daniell was charged with improper lane usage.