Two killed in southern DeKalb County accident

By ALAN EDRINN

A three vehicle accident killed two people in southern DeKalb County Thursday when a vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and crashed head-on with a semitrailer.

About 6:45 a.m., the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Route 30, west of Crego Road, when it crossed into the westbound lane and struck a semitrailer head-on. The vehicle then crossed back into the eastbound lane and struck a second vehicle that was eastbound, according to a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The driver of the first eastbound vehicle, Kathleen Heller, 43, of Shabbona, and the passenger, Thomas M. McCue, 51, of Aurora, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts during the accident.

The driver of the semitrailer, Terry W. Miller, 41, of Sycamore, and the driver of the second eastbound vehicle, John D. Collins, 26, of Paw Paw, were taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital by Hinckley and Waterman Fire Departments. Miller and Collins were both treated and released at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

Route 30 was closed for about three hours for extrication of the drivers and investigation of the accident, Scott said. The road was reopened at about 10:30 a.m.

Police are not sure what caused the vehicle to cross into the opposite lane, and no witnesses had any idea what caused it, Scott said.