Five killed in Central Illinois train collision

Posted on June 15, 2017
Police car
Police say four passengers in a van were killed in a crash with a train near Nokomis on Wednesday night. recovery mission. (Photo by DavidsonScott/flickr)

By Eric Stock

NOKOMIS – Illinois State Police say five people have died after their van was hit by a freight train last night.

WAND-TV reports the crash happened on a stretch of railroad track near Nokomis at Illinois Route 16. Police say they believe the driver, a 79-year-old man from Pana, was driving south on a county road and drove over a railroad crossing where it was hit by the oncoming train at 6:49 p.m.

Three people in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

WAND said two others were flown to St. Louis area hospitals, where they later died. Police identified the victims as Herbert Castle, 79; Mary Pugsley, 87; John Castle, 89; Nell Castle, 77; Mary Castle, 89. All were from Pana.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…