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Monica R. Coats, 38, St. Louis, Mo., was driving south on I-55 with
family members at about 3:22 p.m. on Sunday afternoon when she said
she momentarily fell asleep at the wheel.
The green 2000 Ford Excursion she was driving drifted onto the
rumble strips on the west shoulder and awakened her. Coats said that
she overcorrected and her vehicle traveled across all three
southbound lanes and into the median. The vehicle overturned several
times and came to rest on the driver's side, facing west.
Coats had six passengers in her vehicle, all of St. Louis, Mo.:
Ruby L. Conners, 56, seated in the front; Brittany I. Coats, 17;
Chelsea A. Coats, 15; Kayla I. Coats, 14; Erin D. Coats, 17; and
Kaleb A. Coats, 5.
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 The top of the vehicle was removed and the occupants were
extricated from the vehicle. Ruby L. Conners was airlifted by
helicopter to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, where she has been
listed in critical condition.
Coats and the rest of her passengers were taken to St. John's
Hospital in Springfield, where they were treated for minor injuries
and released.
Illinois State Police personnel were in charge of the accident
scene. They were assisted by the Logan County Paramedics, Logan
County sheriff's office, Elkhart Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Fire and
Rescue, and St. Francis Hospital Life Flight, Peoria.
[Illinois State Police;
LDN]
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