PIKE: Fatal accident claims two lives

By Editor | February 20, 2025 |

By BETH ZUMWALT

It was the call every EMS worker from law enforcement, to paramedics and EMTs, to firefighters dread every day of their career. And Feb. 11, at 6:21 p.m. it came true for several of Pike County Emergency Services.
Police, ambulances and the Pittsfield and Barry Fire Departments were called to the scene of a three vehicle accident, northwest of Pittsfield. There were people seriously hurt, some entrapped and others with not as serious injuries but still injured. Eventually two would be pronounced dead, two teenagers seriously injured and two male individuals with non-life threatening injuries.
Reese Ramsey, 15, Pittsfield, and Lucinda “Cindi’ McKenna, 68, also of Pittsfield, were the fatalities.
Ramsey’s step-sister, Deeghan Allen, and the driver of the 2014 Jeep and another passenger, Lincoln McCartney, 14, were seriously injured. Allen was air-lifted to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and McCartney was also air-lifted, but to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
The driver of the 2016 black Silverado, Eric Harris, 72, Springfield, was also airlifted. The driver of the third unit, a 2010 Case Magnum Tractor, driven by Nathan Reed, 51, Barry was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Illinois State Police, Harris and his wife, McKenna, were eastbound when he attempted to pass the tractor also eastbound, pulling into the west-bound lane,into the path of the Jeep, driven by Allen. The two units collided head-on then slid sideways into the tractor, which overturned.
The investigation into the accident continues.
Law enforcement and civilians helped at the scene until other emergency services could arrive.
McCartney has since had surgery and is home recuperating. Allen is still a patient at St.John’s in Springfield and has had two surgeries. She is expected to come home mid-to-late week this week.
All three of the girls were starters on the Pittsfield Lady Saukee basketball team.
The team decided, as a whole, to withdraw from regional competition, ending their season with a 24-4 record, Ramsey will be named as the team’s leading scorer for the season. She was also named the Most Valuable Player in the Beardstown Lady Tiger Basketball Classic last December. The Lady Saukees won the tournament for the first time with contributions from all three girls and a cast of team-mates.
Schools in the area were cancelled Wednesday, Feb. 12 and Thursday, Feb. 13 due to road conditions from a snowstorm, but Pikeland provided grief counseling.
When school resumed Friday, Feb. 14, most schools in a 75-mile radius of Pike County, all wore red as a tribute to Ramsey and the family and friends who were mourning her. Many held a moment of silence during the school day or at the athletic events. Several basketball teams, boys and girls alike, showed their honor with red ribbons or leg bands during the games.
Grief counseling continues to be offered at all Pikeland Schools.
Obituaries for Reese Ramsey and Cindi McKenna appear on A3.