Ashley Westendorf Critically Injured in Head-On Collision on Route 40 Near Effingham

On June 15, 2025, a head-on collision occurred on Route 40 near Effingham, Illinois, involving Ashley Westendorf of Altamont, Illinois. Westendorf was driving a white minivan westbound when her vehicle was struck by a black Chevrolet pick-up truck driven by Harland J. Neville, who was traveling eastbound and crossed the center line in the "S" curves. The crash resulted in critical injuries to Westendorf, who was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. Her three children, aged 8, 4, and 4 months, were passengers in the minivan and were properly seatbelted. They were transported to HSHS St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham and have since been released. Neville was pronounced dead at the scene by the Effingham County Coroner's Office.

The incident is under investigation by the Effingham County Coroner's Office and the Illinois State Police. An autopsy for Neville is scheduled to determine the official cause of death and to collect toxicology samples.