Four hospitalized: Vehicle overturns in Rock Island collision

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Emergency personnel remove a victim from the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Rock Island Saturday. The accident happened on Sparta Highway when a mini-van pulled from Rock Island Road and slammed into the side of the upside down SUV.

A two-vehicle crash in Rock Island sent four to the hospital Saturday, all of whom escaped critical injury despite the fact one of the vehicles came to rest on its top.

The accident happened around noon at the intersection of Sparta Highway and Rock Island Road. According to Highway Patrolman Mike Tanner, Victoria Biles, 42, of Rock Island had just pulled from Rock Island Road and was attempting to cross the four-lane when her Dodge Caravan slammed into the side of a Ford Explorer driven by Amy Goodwin, 26, of Sparta, as she was traveling eastbound toward Sparta. The impact of the crash caused the Explorer to overturn and roll, coming to rest on the road’s shoulder.

The drivers were taken to River Park Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Biles’ passenger, Charles Biles, 8, and Goodwin’s passenger, Deborah Smith of Florida, were also taken for treatment. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Leading into the weekend, a crash on Smithville Highway near Dibrell Friday morning sent one man for treatment of a broken leg.

The injured motorist, Larry Frisby II, 33, was hurt when his vehicle slammed into the side rear of a nursery truck driven by Danny Murphy, 45, as Murphy was attempting to turn into Great American Bag Company on Highway 56 North around 8 a.m.

Tanner said evidence showed Frisby, who was returning home from work, was passing several vehicles when he came upon the turning Murphy vehicle and was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision.