FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) — Two people were killed in a four vehicle crash Wednesday in Franklin County.

Illinois State Police say the accident happened at about 10:45 a.m. at the intersection of Route 37 and Country Club Road when a car slowed to make a turn and was rear-ended by a truck. The impact of the crash pushed the first car into the path of an oncoming SUV and the truck into the path of a jeep.

The driver and a passenger in the first car, a 37-year-old Carbondale man and a 28-year-old West Frankfort woman, were killed in the crash. Their names have not yet been released. A second passenger in the car was taken to an area hospital with life threatening injuries.

The driver of the truck, 18-year-old Jacob Simmons of Tamms was not hurt. He was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The driver and passenger in the SUV were taken to an area hospital with injuries not described as life threatening.

The driver of the jeep was not hurt.

Route 37 was closed for about four hours while first responders were on the scene.