EFFINGHAM, IL — A young Effingham County fair spectator is in critical condition after an accident at the horse races Sunday afternoon.

The right wing of the race starting gate apparently struck a young girl in the front row of the grandstand at the start of the first race at the Jeffers Memorial Stakes. Medical personnel arrived and transported the female to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis. No one else was injured. The races were postponed to this morning. The Effingham County Fair released a statement, noting they are working closely with law enforcement and emergency personnel to investigate the incident and will have more information once the process and procedure has been reviewed.

The family of the young girl has set up a Go Fund Me page. You can find the link here; https://www.gofundme.com/f/m346t-the-finn-family