BOY IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER WRECK

A Cape Girardeau boy was in critical condition Thursday night after being injured in an accident near Cairo, Ill.

David W. Merritt Jr., 6, suffered major injuries when the car in which he was a passenger was struck in the rear by a tractor-trailer on Illinois Route 3 at U.S. 51. He was taken by LifeBeat helicopter to Southeast Missouri Hospital, where he remained Thursday night.

Also injured were the driver of the vehicle, JoAnn Merritt, 24, and another passenger, Tiffany S. Merritt, 5.

It was unclear how the three were related.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Gerald L. Robinson, 58, of Jackson, was arrested by the Illinois State Police for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for driving a vehicle with its brakes out of adjustment.

Robinson was not injured, according to the state police.

The accident occurred at 9:40 a.m. Thursday when JoAnn Merritt's vehicle, stopped at the signal at the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and U.S. 51, was struck by Robinson's tractor-trailer. Both were southbound on Illinois Route 3.