Increased patrols target cellphone use behind the wheel in Champaign County

Distracted driving remains a deadly issue across the country. Law enforcement agencies in Champaign County are stepping up enforcement of Illinois distracted driving laws during April.

Photo: Marlon Lara/Unsplash

In 2024, more than 3,200 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Law enforcement agencies around the country will be on the look out for drivers using their phones while operating a motor vehicle.

CHAMPAIGN - Put the phone down. At least while you are behind the wheel on Illinois roads. Even a glance down at the phone, looking at that text from your BFF, could not only be the difference between life and death, but it could result in years of higher insurance premiums.

That is the message from local law enforcement as agencies across Champaign County ramp up enforcement of Illinois’ distracted driving laws throughout April.

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The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and other local agencies during Distracted Driving Awareness Month to increase patrols and crack down on drivers using their phones. Deputies will be watching for texting, scrolling social media, watching videos and other distractions behind the wheel.

“Distracted driving puts everyone at risk, and even a quick glance at a phone can have devastating consequences,” Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said. “During April, deputies will be looking for distracted driving violations and issuing citations for observed violations. At a time where costs are rising everywhere, there is a simple way to save some of your hard-earned money — put the phone down while driving.”

Under Illinois law, drivers are not allowed to manually use electronic communication devices while driving. That includes holding a phone to talk without a hands-free device, sending or reading text messages, checking email, scrolling social media or watching videos. The rule also applies when a vehicle is stopped at a red light.

Fines start at $75 and can climb higher if the violation happens in a school zone or leads to a crash.

“In Illinois, manually using an electronic communication device while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal. Put the phone away or pay,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

Distracted driving continues to be a serious issue nationwide. In 2024, 3,208 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to federal traffic safety data.

Officials say drivers can reduce risk by pulling over to send messages, letting a passenger handle calls or texts, or simply putting the phone out of reach until they arrive.

The enforcement effort is funded through federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

TAGS: Champaign County distracted driving enforcement April 2026, Illinois cellphone law fines and penalties while driving, Distracted Driving Awareness Month Illinois police patrols, What is illegal cellphone use while driving in Illinois, Champaign County sheriff distracted driving crackdown details

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.

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.

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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