Vandalia teen dies in one-vehicle crash

A 17-year-old Vandalia girl was killed in a single-car crash on US Route 51 Sunday night.

Preliminary reports from the Illinois State Police state that Olivia M. Blain was driving a black Chevrolet Equinox on Route 51 north of Vandalia when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle was driven off the roadway to the left before it struck the end of a bridge. The vehicle came to rest on an embankment, police said.

Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris said Blain was pronounced dead on the scene. The coroner’s office as well as the Illinois State Police are reportedly continuing their investigations into the accident.

Other agencies assisting the scene included the Vandalia Fire Department, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.