Five killed in church van accident in southern Illinois

Five people died and six were injured Monday when a church van rolled over on Interstate 70 in southern Illinois, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s office.

The incident is being treated as a “single-vehicle accident,” Deputy Sheriff Shawn Carter told the Los Angeles Times by telephone.

The cause of the accident, which occurred at about 10 a.m., is still under investigation, he said.

It does not appear to be weather-related, the deputy said.

Among the six injured was the driver, Carter said.

The injured were taken to two hospitals with wounds ranging from scratches to more serious conditions. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, he said.

Five people were pronounced dead at the scene where the Dodge van went off the side of the road near Vandalia, Ill., about 70 miles east of St. Louis.

The names of the victims have not been released.

The victims of the crash were returning from a church gathering in California on their way to Maryland.

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