Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Two Southern Illinois University students tragically lost their lives in a head-on collision in Carbondale on Monday morning, according to local police. The incident occurred on the 1500 block of North Illinois Avenue, just before 8 a.m., when two trucks collided near a school bus.
The driver, who was the sole occupant of the southbound car, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale by emergency crews. However, the two students in the northbound vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Wolfgang W. Gustaveson from Park Ridge and 18-year-old Francis M. Martinez from Des Plaines, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Both Gustaveson and Martinez were attending SIU in Carbondale and were living on campus, further adding to the tragedy of the situation. Thankfully, no one on the school bus was harmed, and the bus itself remained unaffected by the collision.
The investigation into the crash involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the De Soto Police Department, the Carbondale Fire Department, the Carbondale Public Works Department, and the Illinois State Police. Thanks to their combined efforts, traffic on North Illinois Avenue has since been reopened.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward and contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at 618-549-2121. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be submitted through the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers tip line at 618-549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County tip line at 618-687-COPS (2677). These anonymous tips can also be provided by selecting the “Crime Stoppers” tab on the police department’s website.
The loss of Gustaveson and Martinez has deeply saddened the Southern Illinois University community. The university is offering counseling services and support to students and faculty affected by this tragedy. The families of the victims are also receiving support from the university.
As the investigation continues, the Carbondale community mourns the loss of these young lives and hopes for a thorough understanding of the factors that led to this devastating accident.