Authorities are investigating a two-vehicle accident that occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 51 near Makanda The accident resulted in the deaths of two teen-age girls and the serious injury of another.

Amanda Dalton, 17, of Makanda, and Jennifer Riegger, 16, of Carbondale, were pronounced dead at the scene. They were passengers in a car driven by 17-year-old Jewell Hagler of Makanda.

An eyewitness told Jackson County authorities that a pickup driven by Solomon Parker, 39, of Cairo, was traveling north on U.S. 51 when the Hagler car suddenly drove across the highway from Makanda Road, into the path of the truck.

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The pickup struck the Hagler vehicle on the passenger side, before both vehicles came to rest down an embankment at the north-east side of the intersection.

Hagler was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where she was listed in guarded condition as of press time Wednesday.