Head-on collision west of Galva sends two to hospital

Route 34 and 17 was blocked for approximately two hours Monday after a semi truck and car collided a mile west of Galva.

According to Master Sgt. Ron Salier with the Illinois State Police, at 10:51 a.m. a car driven by Chadd Boland of Toulon, 19, swerved into the path of a semi driven by Junior Bishop, 70, of Berwick and collided head-on. Master Sgt. Salier said according to the accident report, Boland fell asleep and drifted into the path of the oncoming semi that was carrying a trailer loaded with corn.

Boland was transported to OSF St. Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, and then air-lifted to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria where he was listed in fair condition at press time.

Bishop was transported to Cottage Hospital in Galesburg where he was treated and released.

Galva Police Chief Kraig Townsend was first on the scene, where he assessed the injuries until other emergency personnel arrived.

The Galva and Bishop Hill fire departments helped extract Boland from the car, and both drivers were transported by Stark County Ambulance. The fire departments, along with deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, helped direct traffic and clean up the accident scene. Galva Fire Chief Denny Tarleton said the departments were at the scene for two hours.