WHAT:                      Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

 

WHERE:                   Interstate 74 westbound at milepost 211, east of Danville, Vermillion County

 

WHEN:                      October 10, 2020 at 4:23 a.m.

 

VEHICLES:              Unit 1 – 1999 Pontiac Trans Am

                                    Unit 2 – 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

 

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Name withheld pending family notification, a 54-year-old male of Tilton, IL – Fatally Injured

                                    Unit 2 – Josue Bopolo, a 21-year-old male from Rochester, NY – Uninjured

 

PASSENGER:           Unit 2 – Linda Bopolo, a 23-year-old female of Rochester, NY - Uninjured

 

PRELIMINARY:      Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling westbound on I-74 in the right lane near milepost 211.  Unit 2 was also traveling westbound on I-74 in the right lane directly ahead of Unit 1.  For an unknown reason, Unit 1 struck the rear of Unit 2, causing Unit 1 to slide off the roadway, and come to rest against the median cable barrier.  After the impact, Unit 2 struck the guardrail on the right side of the roadway and came to rest in the lanes of traffic.  The driver of Unit 1 received fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Vermillion County Coroner.  All lanes of I-74 we reopened at approximately 10:00 a.m.   No further information will be disseminated at this time.

 

CHARGES:               None

 

The Vermilion County Coroner, Jane McFadden stated that an early morning accident on I-74 near Batestown, at 4:23 a.m. on October 10, 2020, claimed the life of a 54 year old Tilton man. The victim has been identified as Arnold B. Cravens.

 

The identity was held until next of kin could be contacted. An autopsy is scheduled for today. The cause and manner are still under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Vermilion County Coroner’s Office.