A woman died on scene and her husband perished at a hospital following a two-vehicle crash last Wednesday morning near Red Bud.

According to the Illinois State Police, the incident occurred shortly before 9:10 a.m. on Route 154 at South Prairie Road in Randolph County. 

The ISP said a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Alan R. Wahlman, 72, of Walsh, was traveling north on South Prairie Road and failed to stop at the intersection with Route 154, striking a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox that was making a left turn onto South Prairie Road. 

The Equinox overturned as a result of the collision.

Randolph County Coroner Tracy Vallett said Friday that the driver of the Equinox, 86-year-old Jane Lucht of Red Bud, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and her 90-year-old husband Vernon Lucht of Red Bud, was transported to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. 

Vernon was airlifted to Saint Louis University Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Wahlman, who was cited for disobeying a stop sign for his role in the crash, was self-transported to an area hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, ISP said.

Among those assisting ISP at the crash scene were the Red Bud Fire Department, MedStar EMS and Randolph County Sheriff’s Department in addition to air medical helicopters.

Jane worked as editor of the North County News in Red Bud from 1977-2008, and had been a part of that paper’s staff since the 1960s. She was also one of the founders of the Red Bud Area Museum, serving as its director.

“We’re absolutely devastated here at the (North County) News,” said Mary Koester, who succeeded Jane in that role for Red Bud’s newspaper. 

The author of several books, she received several awards recognizing her for her support of the Red Bud community and her work.

Vernon was a longtime farmer who had served as an official rainfall recorder for the National Weather Service for more than 45 years. 

Both were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church, which is located near the site of last Wednesday’s crash.

Visitation for the Luchts took place Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with funeral services set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. 

Read their full obituaries and a tribute in this week’s issue of the North County News, or online by clicking here.