Accident at Coler and University in Urbana injures four, leaves one dead

URBANA - Early Sunday morning, Urbana Police responded to a tragic scene at the intersection of University Avenue and Coler Avenue, where a severe traffic collision claimed the life of a young woman and left several others injured.

The incident, reported at 1:55 AM, involved a Honda Civic traveling eastbound on University Avenue, which had come to a stop at Coler Avenue due to a red traffic signal. According to preliminary investigations by Urbana Police, moments later, a Mitsubishi SUV traveling in the same direction approached at a high rate of speed and collided with the Civic. The impact resulted in extensive damage to both vehicles and caused severe injuries to all five occupants of the Civic.

In a statement from the Urbana Police Department, emergency responders from the Urbana Fire Department were quickly summoned to the scene, where they worked to extricate the injured passengers and administer life-saving measures. Of the five individuals in the Civic, two were discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for minor injuries. Tragically, a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Civic succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family members by the Champaign County Coroner’s office.

Following the collision, the driver of the Mitsubishi SUV fled the scene on foot, heading southbound on Coler Avenue. Despite efforts by law enforcement, the driver remains at large. Urbana Police detectives, along with an accident reconstruction investigator, conducted a thorough examination of the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.

Urbana Police have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They can contact the Urbana Police Department at 217-384-2320. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers via phone at 217-373-TIPS (217-373-8477), online at 373tips.com, or through the "P3 Tips" mobile app.

While the investigation is ongoing, the Urbana Police Department plans to release further details as the investigation progresses.


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GoFundMe set up for families of fatal crash in Rushville

RUSHVILLE - A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the grieving families with arrangements needed after a school bus transporting three preschoolers collided with a semi-truck on Monday.

GFM campaign According to police, the bus crossed over into oncoming traffic into the path of the semi carrying a load of sand. Both vehicles were involved in flames upon impact. Three young children along with the drivers of the school bus and semi-truck perished in the tragic accident.

The accident happened near Rushville, almost 135 miles due west of Champaign-Urbana and 57 miles northwest of Springfield at around 11:30 a.m.

The GoFundMe has been set up for the families of the three students to help cover funerals, medical bills and other unforeseen expenses. According to one news report, a meal train, designed to provide the students' families with home-cooked and delivered meals during this time has been established online while community members work together to support the victims' families.

Donations can be made via this link on GoFundMe.com. As of this article, 560 donors have contributed just over $40,000 in financial support to the grieving families.

The National Transportation Safety Board posted a message on 'X', formerly known as Twitter, Monday night announcing a team would be sent to investigate the incident with Illinois State Police.

Two-vehicle accident on Vine and Pennsylvania

Urbana firefighters and EMS workers responded to an accident involving a white SUV and a black Transit-sized vehicle on the corner of Pennsylvania and Vine at approximately 9 am this morning. Firefighters had to remove the driver from the overturned vehicle. Emergency personnel and police are still at the scene. No other details are available at this time.
Photo: PhotoNews Media

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