Head-on collision near Rosamond results in death of Nokomis man

Updated Tuesday, Feb. 27, 10:52 p.m.

ROSAMOND (Heartland Newsfeed) — A head-on collision which took place near Rosamond along Illinois Route 16 resulted in a death of a Nokomis man, according to a preliminary crash report release by Illinois State Police District 9.

At 10:29 p.m. Monday, an unidentified 19-year-old male from Rosamond, who was westbound on Illinois Route 16 in a red 2006 Ford F-350, caused the head-on collision. The driver admitted to being on his phone at the time, crossing over into the eastbound lane. The preliminary report suspects alcohol as well.

The driver of the Ford would veer into the eastbound lane, striking a 61-year-old driver identified by Christian County Coroner Amy Calvert-Winans as Randal K. McElroy from Nokomis in a gray 2016 Jeep Patriot head-on.

The Nokomis driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Christian County Coroner’s Office. The Illinois State Police’s investigation team in Zone 4 will be continuing the investigation. The Rosamond driver was transported via ambulance to an area hospital with injuries pending.

The deceased driver was wearing a seat belt, while the distracted driver was not.

There will be charges filed in this matter, pending results of the accident investigation.

This report has been updated to include the name of the deceased. The name of the 19-year-old driver has not yet been released at this time.

Jake Leonard, Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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