On Monday afternoon, June 9th, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 251 and Chicago Road. The accident was reported to be a semi versus a pickup truck.
Deputies responded to the area along with EMS from the Paw Paw Fire Department. Investigating Deputies learned a Chevrolet pickup had been westbound on Chicago Road at the stop intersection with Route 251. A semi-tractor trailer hauling grain was northbound on Route 251 approaching the intersection with Chicago Road. Witnesses at the scene indicated that the Chevrolet pickup pulled out in front of the semi-tractor trailer and it was struck broadside in the intersection.
The driver of the Chevrolet pickup was identified as 16-year-old Chasity J. Stavenhagen from Earlville, Illinois. Chasity was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. Her passenger was identified as 20-year-old Kevin Kain of West Brooklyn. He was transported to OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota and later airlifted to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. As of the last information received, Kevin was in critical condition.
Due to the seriousness of the accident, the roadway at the location was closed to traffic for several hours. An accident Reconstructionist and drone pilot from the Sheriff’s Office were brought in to investigate the incident.
The driver of the semi was identified as a 62-year-old male from Sublette. He was uninjured and was released from the scene. The Illinois State Police, Paw Paw Fire and EMS, the Lee County Coroner’s Office, and the Illinois Department of Transportation assisted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The crash is still under investigation.
