March 29, 2024
Local News | Bureau County Republican


Local News

Man dies in Route 89 head-on crash near McNabb

MCNABB — The driver of a midsized car died after he attempted to pass a northbound semi, and the car struck a southbound semi head-on, according to Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

A man was killed instantly in the accident reported at 1:51 p.m. Wednesday on Route 89 about 1.5 miles south of McNabb, according to a press release Wednesday evening from the sheriff's office.

Putnam County Coroner Bob Cofoid said he is withholding the name of the driver, the lone occupant in the car. The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred in a relatively flat, open area about a quarter of a mile south of Edgewood Park Golf Course.

In addition to the sheriff's office and death investigator, state police, Putnam County EMS ambulances and Magnolia, McNabb and Standard firefighters assisted at the scene. Cofoid said firefighters had to perform extrication work at the scene.

Authorities, with help from Illinois Department of Transportation, closed Route 89 for approximately four hours between the McNabb Blacktop and Route 18 after the accident.

Cofoid said he, Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois State Police accident reconstruction unit are investigating.

Both the driver of the southbound semi, Van C. Hock of Toluca, and the northbound semi that was being passed at the time of the crash, Arnold Litwiller of Secor, refused treatment at the scene, according to the sheriff's office.