effingham County crews responded after a two-vehicle collision Monday afternoon that left one driver injured and taken to a local hospital. The crash occurred at 4: 53 PM ET at the intersection of 900th Street and 1350th Avenue in Summit Township. The incident and the town’s upcoming Restaurant Week — April 13–19 — shape a busy week for the community.
Crash details and immediate response
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said the collision involved two vehicles at 4: 53 PM ET at the junction of 900th Street and 1350th Avenue. A vehicle driven by 77-year-old Betty Wise of Effingham was traveling south on 900th Street and attempted to turn east onto 1350th Avenue while a second vehicle driven by 54-year-old Matthew Jones of Effingham was heading northbound on 900th Street. A third unit was stopped at a west-side stop sign at the intersection.
The Sheriff’s Office said Wise told deputies she had been watching the stopped vehicle and did not see Jones’ vehicle when she turned. The collision spun Wise’s vehicle and pushed it into a ditch; it came to rest on the passenger side. Rural Med EMS transported Wise to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment. Jones refused treatment at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office issued a citation to Wise for failure to yield the right of way at the intersection.
Immediate reactions
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office provided the sequence of events and identification of the drivers involved. Rural Med EMS confirmed transport of the injured driver to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham. Hospital staff availability and condition updates will be released by the hospital as they become available. Local law enforcement and emergency medical personnel remained on scene to clear the roadway and complete their investigation following the crash at 4: 53 PM ET.
Effingham Restaurant Week returns this spring
In separate local news, Effingham’s Restaurant Week is scheduled to run April 13–19 and marks the sixth annual installment of the event. The town’s dining scene includes more than 70 restaurants and a mix of longtime local favorites and chef-driven kitchens; the weeklong format highlights special menus and curated offerings across locally owned establishments. Effingham, Illinois positions the event as a draw for both residents and visitors looking for a compact, food-focused road trip from nearby cities.
Quick context: the Restaurant Week format focuses on a select lineup of locally owned restaurants offering special menus for seven days. The event offers both visitors and residents a structured way to sample the range of kitchens in and around effingham ahead of the spring season.
What’s next: law enforcement will finalize the crash report and any remaining scene investigation, and the hospital will release further health updates as appropriate. Meanwhile, local organizers and participating restaurants will publish final Restaurant Week participation and menu details in the weeks leading up to April 13. Community leaders and emergency responders will monitor road and event safety as effingham moves into a busy spring calendar.
