Clinton man identified in deadly house fire

Posted on November 29, 2023
Fire crews from Wapella, Kenney, Hickory Point, Warrensburg, Maroa, and Waynesville responded to the scene to assist Clinton Fire Department. (Pixabay)

By Jake Fogal

CLINTON – Officials with the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office have identified a man involved in a structure fire last week in Clinton.

Clinton Firefighters arrived at the scene of Brush College Road to a house engulfed in flames on Nov. 20 . First responders discovered a victim inside the residence, identified as 79 year old Lubertus Van Apeldoorn.

Apeldoorn was transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital the night of the fire, and died two days later.

According to a coroner’s office news release, a preliminary autopsy indicates that Apeldoorn died from thermal injuries sustained during the fire.

Fire crews from Wapella, Kenney, Hickory Point, Warrensburg, Maroa, and Waynesville responded to the scene to assist Clinton Fire Department.

The incident remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

Jake Fogal 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…