WASHINGTON COUNTY — A multi-vehicle crash Friday morning involving three motorcycles on Interstate 64 in Washington County resulted in injuries to two of the riders, one of whom was airlifted with life-threatening injuries.

According to Illinois State Police, around 11:10 a.m. Friday, a group of motorcyclists was traveling eastbound on I-64 near milepost 45.5 in Washington County when a vehicle in front of them slowed for an unknown reason.

The motorcyclists were reportedly riding too closely to each other within the group were unable to react in time due to the short distances between vehicles.

Three of the motorcycles within the group struck each other in a chain reaction-type crash. This caused them to lose control, their respective riders to be ejected, and the motorcycles to come to rest in the median and left edge of the roadway.

One rider, 30-year-old Arron G. Chaney, of Junction City, Kansas, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries; 24-year-old Mikhail A. Williams, of Columbia, Missouri was uninjured; and 33-year-old Brandon R. Harrison, also of Columbia, was airlifted from the scene via medical helicopter to a regional hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

All riders involved were wearing helmets. All eastbound traffic on I-64 was diverted off at the Okawville exit for several hours Friday.