The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Local News

Discussion

June 10, 2009

Crash claims life of toddler

BY ANNA HERKAMP

HOOPESTON — A toddler was killed in a two-vehicle head-on crash near Hoopeston on Wednesday.

The child was pronounced dead at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday at Hoopeston Community Hospital. At press time, officials had not disclosed the name of the deceased.

Coroner Peggy Johnson could not say whether more than one death had resulted from the collision that occurred at 4:30 p.m. at Illinois Route 1 and County Road 38600, just south of Red Top Cemetery.

The accident, which is still under investigation, involved six people in the two vehicles.

The first vehicle, a 1997 Ford Explorer was driven by Denise Goodrum, 44, of Hoopeston. Goodrum was driving southbound on Route 1. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The second vehicle, a 1990 Chevrolet pick-up truck, was driven by John Schwartz, 23. Traveling northbound, he was carrying four passengers in his truck — two in the cab and two in the truck bed, according to Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department Captain Dennis Wood.

The names of the passengers have not been released. Both drivers and two passengers from the pick-up truck were airlifted to an Urbana hospital.

Just after 9 p.m., a Carle Foundation Hospital spokeswoman said Schwartz was listed in critical condition and Goodrum was listed in fair condition.

The other two passengers from the truck were taken to the Hoopeston hospital.

Wood said preliminary reports indicate that Schwartz drove into oncoming southbound traffic presumably to go around another vehicle turning west into a driveway. Schwartz hit the Explorer head-on when it was in the southbound lane.

The narrative of the incident is still under investigation, Wood added.

Text Only
Local News
  • Tropical Storm Beryl strengthens, nears U.S. coast

    Tropical Storm Beryl was wrecking some Memorial Day weekend plans on Sunday, causing shoreline campers to pack up and head inland and leading to the cancellation of some events as the storm approached the southeastern U.S.

    May 27, 2012

  • CASA seeks volunteers

    May 27, 2012

  • Classes transition online

    May 27, 2012

  • AmyandRomanSchweizer1.jpg Dad welcomes baby — while a world away

    Like most fathers, Brandun Schweizer wanted to witness his first child’s birth. There was just one problem, however — he was thousands of miles away in Afghanistan.

    May 27, 2012 2 Photos

  • Veterans ask people to pause

    Although the Memorial Day weekend is a time for picnics and pool parties, veterans’ groups hope people pause to remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty, as well as others who have died.

    May 27, 2012

  • Martha Stewart learns family’s roots

    Television viewers have been treated to two series lately dealing with genealogy.

    May 27, 2012

  • Haiti touches her heart Haiti touches her heart

    Janis Ostiguy of Danville experiences many emotions each time she visits Haiti — sadness at the poverty, happiness with the children, warmth for the people and their spirit.

    May 27, 2012 3 Photos

  • Turtles return to race

    Collected turtles are being fed fruits, meat and vegetables and will be ready to go for the 48th Annual Turtle Races.

    May 27, 2012

  • Hiker’s heart is in America's Highlands

    Robert Burns, the immortal Scottish poet, once wrote, “My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; my heart’s in the Highlands, a’chasing the wild deer; a’chasing the wild deer, and following the roe; my heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.”

    May 27, 2012

  • Posters recall Cannon’s 1880 opponent Posters recall Cannon’s 1880 opponent

    In 1980, John Mendenhall found three 1880 J. R. Scott campaign posters in a home he was restoring.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo