The Christian County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle accident on Sunday morning just outside of Taylorville. At 2:25 Sunday morning, Christian County 911 received a call of a one-vehicle traffic crash that occurred on 1300 E. Road near 1250 N. Road. The vehicle was a 2007 Chevrolet pickup occupied by 32-year-old Stefan Bedinger from Taylorville, 40-year-old Eric Burke from Owaneco, and 29-year-old Curtis Eller from rural Taylorville. 

The vehicle was heading southbound on 1300 East Road when it went off the roadway on the east side of the road near 1250 N. Road.  The vehicle rolled over on its top coming to a rest in flooded water just off of the roadway. Christian County Deputies, Taylorville Police Officers, Dunn’s Ambulance, and Taylorville Rescue responded to the scene.

All three individuals were taken to Taylorville Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Springfield Memorial.  Mr. Burke has been transferred to a hospital in St. Louis in critical condition. Both Bedinger and Eller were released from Springfield Memorial. 

Road conditions were snow-covered and icy at the time of the crash. The investigation is still ongoing and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office believes that alcohol may have had a factor in the crash. It is still unknown who was driving the vehicle. The Christian County Sheriff’s Office reports that the three individuals had been at the Funky Monkey Tavern and were heading to Mr. Bedinger’s residence at the time of the crash.

Sheriff Kettelkamp tells Regional Radio news, that “We are very fortunate that we did not have three people drown from this crash.” The Sheriff’s Office encourages citizens to avoid driving in hazardous conditions and always make sure they have a sober driver.