MARION COUNTY — Emergency responders were busy Wednesday night when nearly simultaneous vehicle crashes in the area resulted in multiple requests going out for air evac in both Kell and Benton.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert of a two-vehicle crash with multiple injuries on the 161 extension at Buchanan Road in Iuka. Kell Fire responded for extrication. Multiple agencies responded to the scene and a request was made for three Air Evac choppers.

According to Illinois State Police, a white Jeep Wrangler was traveling southbound on Buchanan Road and failed to stop at the stop sign, entered the intersection, and struck a white International straight truck that was traveling on IL-161 through the intersection. The impact caused the  International to roll over, ejecting all three occupants.

The three ejected occupants were transported by medical helicopter to a regional hospital, while the driver of the Jeep was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The intersection was closed until approximately 4:41 a.m. Thursday morning. There is no further information.