Vergennes, IL (October 22, 2024) — A fatal multi-vehicle accident occurred in Jackson County, Illinois, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Lyric Irby of Peoria.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash took place on Sunday, October 20, around 6:10 p.m. on Illinois Route 13/127, just north of Illinois Route 4, in rural Vergennes. Deputies arrived to find multiple vehicles involved, with at least one on fire and an occupant trapped.
According to the preliminary investigation, Irby was driving a 2016 Honda Accord southbound and attempted to pass two other vehicles by entering the northbound lane. Unfortunately, there was not enough time or space, and Irby’s vehicle collided head-on with a northbound 2010 Ford Edge driven by a 71-year-old man from St. Charles, Missouri.
The collision caused significant damage to both vehicles, and the engine compartment of the Honda Accord caught fire. Nearby drivers managed to break a window and pull Irby from the vehicle, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford Edge was extricated and transported to a hospital, but his condition is currently unknown.
Two other southbound vehicles—a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder and a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix—crashed into each other while trying to avoid the initial collision. The drivers and passengers of these vehicles were unharmed.
Route 13/127 was closed for approximately two and a half hours for the investigation, which is ongoing by the Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit. The incident was assisted by multiple agencies, including local fire departments, the Jackson County Ambulance Service, and the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
- The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.
- The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
- Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
- Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.
The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.
