Man, toddler killed in traffic crash

A Cape Girardeau man and an 18-month-old boy were killed Thursday in a traffic accident in Union County, Illinois, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police.

Lenzie M. Johnson, 43, was headed west on Illinois Highway 146 near Locust Grove Road at 12:57 p.m. Thursday when the 2012 Toyota Yaris he was driving crossed into the eastbound lane at the crest of a hill, colliding head-on with a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze driven by a 66-year-old woman from Piedmont, Missouri, the release stated.

Johnson was taken to Union County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the release stated.

An 18-month-old boy who was in the car with Johnson was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later died, Illinois State Police reported.

The other driver was taken to a Cape Girardeau hospital with injuries that were not life threatening, the release stated.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, and the child was in a safety seat, the release stated.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

The names of the child and the other driver were not released.

Pertinent address:

Illinois 146 and Locust Grove Road, Union County, Ill.