Streator man dies in Interstate 39 crash near La Salle

Man ejected from vehicle and into the river, where he was found

Exposed riverbanks and sandbars can be seen extending into the Illinois River as motorists cross the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge on Interstate 39 on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. A lack of rainfall this spring has caused the shallow depth of the river. — A Sunday morning collision on the Interstate 39 bridge near La Salle resulted in a fatality and the body was recovered from the Illinois River. (Scott Anderson)

August 27, 2024 at 5:37 am CDT

A Sunday morning collision on the Interstate 39 bridge near La Salle resulted in the death of a Streator man who was recovered from the Illinois River.

The man has been identified as John S. Smith, 36, of Streator the La Salle County Coroner’s Office said in a Monday news release. A forensic investigative autopsy was conducted on Monday, the coroner said, with preliminary results indicating that he died from fatal injuries from the initial motor vehicle crash.

A complete report is pending, but the coroner said Smith was ejected from his vehicle and into the river below. The Peru River Rescue Squad made the recovery. Peru River Rescue, along with crews from Spring Valley Fire Department and Ottawa River Rescue, cleared the scene about 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

This incident is under further investigation by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police