CLAY COUNTY — A construction worker from Mt. Vernon was airlifted to an Evansville Hospital after being struck on the job at a road work site in Clay County Wednesday.

According to Illinois State Police, a vehicle driven by 87-year-old Alvin A. Austin of Mason was driving northbound on the Dieterich Blacktop at County Road 1765E when he failed to reduce speed and struck 42-year-old Brandy Mckinnies who was working in the construction zone.

Austin has been charged with improper passing of an authorized emergency vehicle causing injury to another, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and improper passing on the right.