Emergency personnel responded shortly before 3:30 p.m. last Tuesday to a multi-vehicle crash with ejection and serious injuries on I-255 at milemarker 9 in Dupo. 

Traffic in that area was backed up as a result of the crash, which involved five vehicles. 

An ARCH Air Medical Services helicopter responded to the crash scene along with Prairie du Pont, Dupo and Columbia fire and EMS agencies and Illinois State Police.

One man was ejected from his vehicle and airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Two others were transported by ambulance to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. 

ISP said a red 2012 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Aaron D. Lovell, 54, of Jacksonville, Ark., a green 1997 Mazda Miata driven by Bryan W. Barrows, 31, of Red Bud, and a gray 2015 Hyundai Veloster driven by Jesus A. Tenorio, 36, of Caseyville, were all traveling north on I-255 near milepost 9. A gray 2005 Dodge Ram driven by Alvin F. Schmidt, 79, of Cherokee Village, Ark. with a 70-year-old female passenger, and a red 2015 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Donna R. Woods, 68, of Dupo, with a 66-year-old male passenger, were traveling south on I-255 in the same area. 

The semi truck did not see the Mazda as it was merging into another northbound lane, ISP said, resulting in a collision. The Mazda lost control and spun out, colliding with the Hyundai. The Hyundai then traveled across the median into the southbound lanes, resulting in a collision with the Dodge pickup. Lastly, the Camaro was unable to avoid striking the pickup following that collision. 

Tenorio was the person airlifted following the crash. Schmidt and his female passenger were the ones transported by ambulance, ISP said.

Stuckmeyers Plants Produce posted on Facebook that Tenorio, who goes by “Zeus,” works for them. 

“He’s worked for us for years,” Stuckmeyers posted. “He leaves our farm to work at his second job. He’s married and has children that need him. If you’d please take the time to pray for him, we’d all appreciate it.”