On July 20th, a devastating accident took place at the 8700 Block of the Macoupin County Line Road in Virden, resulting in the death of a man and leaving a woman injured. The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, has confirmed that 66-year-old William Jeffery of Chatham was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Preliminary autopsy findings conducted by the Sangamon County Coroner's office indicated that Mr. Jeffery's untimely passing was due to multiple blunt force injuries sustained during the crash.
The incident occurred when a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail Road Company train traveled northwest on the tracks. At the same time, a 2022 Chevrolet flatbed pickup truck, occupied by Mr. Jeffery and a 31-year-old female passenger, attempted to cross the tracks in front of the oncoming train.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, the Auburn Police Department, the Divernon Police Department, and the Virden Fire Department, rushed to the scene to immediately assist.
The female passenger was promptly taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance to receive medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.
The circumstances leading up to the collision remain under thorough investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner's Office and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.