Church van crash kills 5 in Illinois

ST. LOUISAuthorities say a van carrying church members returning from a California religious gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times, killing five people and hospitalizing six others.

State police Sgt. Mark Zimmerman said five people died at the scene of the accident shortly before 10 a.m. Monday on Interstate 70 in Fayette County, about 70 miles east of St. Louis.

Sheriff's deputy Shawn Carter says the van apparently first traveled onto the grassy median, then swerved back across the eastbound lanes before overturning. Several people were ejected from the vehicle when it flipped, reports CBS affiliate KMOV in St. Louis.

Carter says the van was returning from a California religious event and had Maryland license plates.

Fayette County Hospital spokeswoman Lyn Gartke says four survivors taken there were in fair condition later Monday. The medical statuses of the other two survivors weren't clear.