Charleston, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 5 was requested by the Charleston Police Department (CPD) to investigate the events preceding a fatal traffic crash which occurred on September 19, 2021 at approximately 5 p.m.
Preliminary investigative details indicate a witness reported a reckless driver to Coles County Communications and the Illinois State Police at approximately 4:47 p.m. Officers with the Mattoon Police Department (MPD) located the vehicle at approximately 4:49 p.m. on Lakeland Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to stop and fled the area. Several minutes later CPD located the fleeing vehicle and initiated a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Reynolds Drive. The vehicle again failed to stop and fled the area.
At approximately 5 p.m., the vehicle crashed into several other vehicles on Illinois Route 16 at University Drive in Charleston, IL. A total of five vehicles were involved in the traffic crash which is being handled by CPD. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the hospital. A total of four individuals from the other involved vehicles were transported to area hospitals with injuries.
CPD requested the Illinois State Police DCI Zone 5 to investigate the events leading up to the crash. The CPD, MPD, ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit (TCRU) and the Coles County Coroner’s Office are assisting with the investigation. This investigation is open and ongoing. No additional information will be released at this time.
Comments