JEFFERSON COUNTY — A twp-vehicle crash on Interstate 57 Sunday afternoon in Jefferson County has claimed the life of an 18-year-old Mt. Vernon female and sent a 25-year-old Energy man to the hospital with minor injuries.

According to Illinois State Police, around 12:56 p.m. a 2006 Mazda driven by the Energy man was traveling northbound on I-57 at milepost 81 in Jefferson County.

A 2016 Jeep driven by the Mt. Vernon female was traveling southbound on I-57 at the same location. For unknown reasons the Mazda traveled across the center median and into the southbound lanes of traffic, striking the Jeep head on.

A passenger in the Jeep, also an 18-year-old female of Mt. Vernon, was taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to a regional hospital. The driver was declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the Mazda, as well as his 22-year-old female passenger, of Carbondale, were transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

I-57 southbound was closed for approximately 5 hours during the crash investigation. Both vehicles sustained major damages and were towed from the scene.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.