Springfield, IL : Petersburg man killed in one-vehicle crash on Illinois 97 in Sangamon County on Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A Petersburg man is dead after his Jeep went off a highway northwest of Springfield and struck a power pole on Wednesday.

The Sangamon County Coroner's Office identified the man as Grant Ward, 55, on Thursday. He was traveling alone.

An autopsy was conducted Thursday morning. The coroner said the preliminary cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the accident.

Illinois State Police said the Jeep was headed north on Illinois 97, 1/4 mile north of Salisbury Road, at 6:22 p.m. when the vehicle, for an unknown reason, went off the road.

Police said Ward, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, was taken to a local hospital, where he died at 7:16 p.m.

Illinois 97 was closed for about four hours as police investigated.

Source :
Authorities identify Petersburg man killed in one-vehicle crash on Illinois 97