A 40 year old Altamont man was killed in an early morning accident today on Interstate 70 near St. Elmo. Illinois State Police reports indicate that a vehicle driven by 40 year old Jeffrey D. Beck of Altamont and a semi-truck/tractor operated by 45 year old William K. Daume of Canton, Texas were stopped in traffic on Interstate 70 westbound about one mile west of St. Elmo, when State Police say a vehicle driven by 22 year old Joshua M. Willis of Mansfield, Ohio failed to reduce speed and struck the rear of Beck’s vehicle. Subsequently, Beck’s vehicle then struck the rear of the semi-trailer pulled by Daume’s semi-truck. The driver, 40 year old Jeffrey D. Beck, was then entrapped and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fayette County Deputy Coroner Rick Gottman at 6:15 this morning. Both Willis and a passenger, 46 year old Jack E. Rudolph, Senior of Mansfield, Ohio, were taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham and then were transported to Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign. Both Daume and a passenger, 53 year oled Bobbi L. Gibbs of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, were treated and released. The crash investigation continues by the Illinois State Police, State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Fayette County Coroner’s office. The driver of Unit One, Willis, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. An autopsy will be conducted on Beck tomorrow at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham.