ANNA YOUTH KILLED IN ACCIDENT

MARION, Ill. -- A 17-year-old Anna-Jonesboro, Ill., High School student was killed in an accident late Saturday night 3 miles south of Marion, Ill.

Larry Daniel "Cookie" Rojas of Anna died at 12:35 a.m. Sunday at Marion Memorial Hospital after a head-on collision at 11:15 p.m. Saturday on Market Street.

Williamson County Coroner Monty Blue said Rojas was northbound when his vehicle strayed over the center line on an S-curve. The car struck a vehicle driven by James Farris, 47, of Marion who was traveling south.

Farris, who was on his way to work at the penitentiary outside Marion, was taken to Marion Memorial Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, Blue said.

The air bag in Farris's vehicle deployed, Blue said, saving his life. Investigators do believe Rojas was wearing a seat belt but the nature of the accident rendered it useless.