Pictured is one of the vehicles involved in the crash on Route 156 west of Waterloo. (Kermit Constantine photo)

Three people were injured – one seriously – during an early morning crash that occurred just west of Waterloo on Friday, Dec. 29.

Emergency personnel responded about 1:15 a.m. to a two-vehicle, head-on crash with injuries reported on Route 156.

A convertible Honda driven by Thomas Goodnick, 21, of Waterloo, westbound on Route 156 at Fountain Creek Ridge Lane just west of the Monroe County Fairgrounds apparently crossed the center line and struck head-on a Ford Escape driven by John M. Downs, 46, of St. Louis, in the eastbound lane, according to an initial Illinois State Police crash report.

A female front seat passenger in the Honda, identified by police as Logan Goodnick, 23, of Waterloo, was airlifted from the scene in a Survival Flight medical helicopter to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of serious injuries.

She remains hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to ISP Trooper Doug Hays.

Route 156 was closed to traffic in both directions for several hours as Illinois State Police investigated the crash and performed accident reconstruction.

Assisting ISP at the scene of the crash were the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Waterloo Police Department, Monroe County EMS and the Waterloo Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to the scene for extrication and to set up a landing zone for the medical helicopter.

Trooper Hays said police are still determining if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.