LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
A two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning, July 19, resulted in a fatality and the closure of state Route 1 between Chrisman and Paris.
Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett confirmed shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday that Andrew L. Riza, 17, of Ridge Farm, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Barrett said the accident occurred around 8:28 a.m. when 911 dispatch received a call from Tony Cesinger, Terre Haute, Ind, stating he was involved in a two-vehicle collision after being struck by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The accident occurred a short distance north of the Horace-Brocton Road and state Route 1 intersection.
According to Barrett, Cesinger sustained minor injuries but refused treatment.
The Illinois State Police have not yet released a traffic accident report, but information in the coroner’s release states evidence at the scene and accounts from witnesses indicate Riza, driving a 1993 Chevy truck, crossed the center line before hitting Cesinger in his southbound 2014 Dodge Ram. The Dodge Ram was a work truck owned by Decatur and Eastern Illinois Railroad. Both vehicles eventually came to rest in the ditch on the east side of the highway.
Neal EMS, the Edgar County Sheriff's Department, the Paris Fire Department, the Chrisman Fire Department and the Illinois State Police all responded to the accident.
Traffic was rerouted away from the collision site while emergency responders were on scene and the investigation was underway. The Edgar County Sheriff's office released a statement on Facebook, notifying the public that Route 1 was closed between 1700th Road and 1800th Road, and motorists should detour onto the Horace-Brocton Road. A subsequent announcement was issued when the road re-opened.