ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12

WHAT: Double Fatality Crash – Two vehicle

WHERE: Interstate 57 NB @ MP 159.5

WHEN: 12/02/2017 at 10:28 p.m.

VEHICLES: Unit #1 – White 1996 Oldsmobile from Brownstown, IL

Unit #2 T/T – Blue 2015 Freightliner from Scranton, PA

Unit #2 S/T – White 2006 Utility trailer from Scranton, PA

DRIVER: Unit #1 – Shirley M. Klitzing, 83yo female from Brownstown, IL

Unit #2 – Richard P. Messerve, 68yo male from Mayer, AZ

CHARGES: Unit #1- Driving wrong direction/wrong lane (no citations issued at this time)

TRANSPORTS: Driver of Unit 1 was transported to the St. Anthony Memorial Hospital

Then flown to Carle Hospital. Driver of Unit 2 was pronounced on scene.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate Unit 1 was driving southbound (which was the wrong direction) in the northbound lanes of traffic, when it crashed into Unit 2. Unit 1 was thrown around unit 2, damaging the front end / driver’s side of the car. Unit 2 overturned into the guardrail due to the crash. Both drivers of unit 1 and 2 required extrication. The driver of Unit 2 was pronounced deceased on scene and the driver of Unit 1 was flown to Carle where she was pronounced deceased due to injuries.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law